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 Major (Infantry) Archibald Gourley Thacher, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 306th Infantry Regiment, 77th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, at St. Juvin, France, 14 October 1918. While commanding the 2d Battalion in a flank march across the Aire River, Major Thacher, acting with the greatest gallantry and with utter disregard for his own safety, personally made a reconnaissance in the face of heavy hostile machine-gun and shell fire, well in advance of his battalion, thereby saving his command from heavy losses. It was due to his thorough reconnaissance that his subsequent successful attack on this strong hostile position was consummated.