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) Herman W. Steinkraus, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 127th Infantry Regiment, 32d Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near the Bois-de-Bantheville, France, 15 October 1918. Continuing in command of his company, after he had been instructed to go to the rear for treatment for an infected leg, Lieutenant Steinkraus skillfully extricated his company with few casualties, when it became suddenly exposed to intense machine-gun fire from both flanks. Reinforcing his command with stragglers he organized a strong right flank guard by utilizing captured German machine-guns and succeeded in maintaining his position.