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 Captain (Infantry) Joseph M. Simpson, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Machine-Gun Company, 357th Infantry Regiment, 90th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Foret Vencheres, France, 14 September 1918. Captain Simpson took command of a platoon that had become separated from its command, reorganized it, and showed marked personal courage in leading it forward under heavy fire. He called for volunteers and then led them in an attack upon a machine-gun nest that had been holding up our advance. With two men, he charged the nest, captured the gun, and killed the crew.