The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Second Lieutenant (Infantry) Hugh Darcie Shallenberger, Jr., United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 56th Infantry Regiment, 7th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Preny Ridge, France, 1 November 1918. Although twice wounded by machine-gun fire while leading his men in an attack on Preny Ridge, under heavy machine-gun fire, Lieutenant Shallenberger continued in the advance until he was killed by the explosion of a shell.