The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Sergeant Hearl Smith (ASN: 1460802), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company F, 140th Infantry Regiment, 35th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Cheppy, France, 27 September 1918. Having been mortally wounded while rushing a machine-gun nest, Sergeant Smith continued faithfully to perform his duties and calmly directed the movements of his half-platoon until he died on the field.