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 Sergeant First Class Firm Foy Shimel (ASN: 2273999), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company B, 316th Field Signal Battalion, 91st Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Epinonville, France, October 1 – 2, 1918. Sergeant Shimel was in charge of a party of men stringing wire when an enemy sniper was firing at them. Sending his men to cover, he advanced alone, located the sniper, and killed him. Next day while he and his party were repairing breaks in the line under shell fire, a shell burst a few feet away. His coolness and courage under fire inspired his men to continue their work and prevented communication being interrupted.