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 Major (Infantry) Burton Armstrong Smead, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving as Division Adjutant, 89th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, during the Argonne-Meuse offensive, November 1 – 6, 1918. Upon his own request, Major Smead was assigned to the hazardous duty of conducting the division advance message center. He was constantly exposed to fire, going to the front line for information when it could not be otherwise obtained.