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 Second Lieutenant (Field Artillery) Harold A. Wascher, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 122d Field Artillery, 33d Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Nouart, France, 5 November 1918. While commanding an observation party Second Lieutenant Wascher established a post well in advance of the infantry, and despite the severe fire to which be was subjected, he set up and maintained telephone communications. While thus engaged he was severely wounded by machine-gun fire.