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 First Lieutenant (Infantry) Leon Powell Shinn, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 356th Infantry Regiment, 89th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Flirey, France, 12 September 1918. First Lieutenant Shinn continued to lead his platoon until the third objective had been reached, after being wounded in the leg during the first 20 minutes of the advance.