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) Meredith Bend Wood, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 308th Infantry Regiment, 77th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Badonvilliers, France, 30 June and near Chery Chartreuve, France, 24 August 1918. Accompanied by only one noncommissioned officer, Lieutenant Wood, acting as signal officer, penetrated the enemy’s front line and bravely patrolled their territory, following a wire which was thought to lead to a listening post. He cut the wire and returned to our lines with valuable information. On 24 August when a direct hit was made on the building occupied by regimental headquarters, he was severely gassed when he removed his mask to aid a mortally wounded soldier, and to search for others who might have been overcome.