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 Corporal David Whitaker Stearns (ASN: 568697), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company C, 4th Engineers, 4th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near St. Thibault, France, 6 August 1918. Corporal Stearns was a member of a platoon ordered to precede the infantry, to construct footbridges across the Vesle River. Enemy sniper, machine-gun, and artillery fire was so intense that four attempts of his platoon failed. Acting upon his own initiative, Corporal Stearns made his way along the river in the face of the deadly fire, and, for one hour, reconnoitered the enemy’s positions, reporting back to his commanding officer with information of the greatest value.