The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Captain (Infantry) Henry L. Thompson, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 23d Infantry Regiment, 2d Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Vaux-en-Dieulet, France, 3 November 1918. Although painfully wounded, Captain Thompson led his battalion to the outskirts of Vaux-en-Dieulet, the advance being without artillery support and accomplished only by effective rifle fire. This officer himself set an example for his men by killing with a rifle two German machine-gunners at a distance of 500 yards. He was again seriously wounded after reaching the objective while making dispositions for defense against counter attacks.