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) Joseph W. Smith, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 166th Infantry Regiment, 42d Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near St. Baussant, northeast of St. Mihiel, France, 12 September 1918. Finding that his platoon would be under heavy fire of enemy machine-guns while crossing the Rupt de Mad, Lieutenant Smith, rather than permit the advance to be delayed, unhesitatingly plunged into the stream, crossed it under heavy fire, ascertained the exact location of the enemy, brought his platoon through the river by a protected route, and with it flanked and captured six machine-guns and 19 prisoners.