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 Clarence Witten (ASN: 52613), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company A, 26th Infantry Regiment, 1st Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Soissons, France, 20 July 1918. Private Witten fearlessly exposed himself to fire, in order to obtain effective positions from which to fire upon enemy machine-gun nests, continuing this valuable work until seriously wounded.