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 (Signal Corps) Richard Thompson Smith, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 117th Field Signal Battalion, 42d Division, American Expeditionary Forces, while under heavy shell fire on 17 March 1918, in the vicinity of Fort de Manonviller, France. Captain Smith showed prompt initiative and courage in conducting to shelter a party of 65 men who were constructing and repairing communication lines. After making them secure, he went out under fire and brought in a wounded soldier who was lying exposed in the open.