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 Private Hastings Thomas (ASN: 3086695), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company C, 21st Machine-Gun Battalion, 7th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Vieville-en-Haye, France, 1 November 1918. Private Thomas acted as a runner during offensive operations, and under severest enemy barrages, carried messages to and from the front lines.