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 Corporal Emmett W. Waltman (ASN: 569248), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company F, 4th Engineers, 4th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, west of Fismes, France, 5 August 1918. Corporal Waltman was a member of a small detachment of engineers which went out in advance of the front line of the infantry through an enemy barrage from 77-mm. and one-pounder guns to construct a footbridge over the River Vesle. As soon as their operations were discovered machine-gun fire was opened up on them, but, undaunted, the party continued at work, removing the German wire entanglements and completing a bridge which was of great value in subsequent operations.