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) Henry Root Stern, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 311th Infantry Regiment, 78th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Vieville-en-Haye, France, 20 September 1918. During an enemy attack on the position held by his platoon, after being severely wounded in the leg by a machine-gun bullet, Lieutenant Stern remained in a position subjected to heavy machine-gun fire, and refused to accept aid until after the attack had been repulsed. His deed greatly encouraged his men.