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) Edward Atwood Walton, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 369th Infantry Regiment, 93d Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Ripont, Marne, France, 16 September 1918. While acting as adjutant of the 3d Battalion of his regiment Lieutenant Walton accompanied the battalion commander on a personal reconnaissance, advancing 100 meters in advance of the assaulting lines, where they were met by heavy enemy machine-gun fire. The battalion commander received six severe leg wounds; he was carried and dragged under intense fire to a place of comparative shelter by Lieutenant Walton, who assisted a member of the Medical Corps to apply first aid. While so engaged he himself was wounded. The splendid example of courage and devotion to duty greatly encouraged and inspired the men of the regiment.