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 Sergeant Harry Melvin Woods (ASN: 244914), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company D, 1st Gas Regiment, American Expeditionary Forces, near Montfaucon, France, 29 September 1918. While his position was under heavy and continuous bombardment of both gas and high-explosive shells he voluntarily left is dugout and put gas masks on nine wounded soldiers, giving his own mask to one of them, and thus saving their lives. After being severely gassed by the explosion of a shell, one piece of which struck him, he continued to administer aid to the other wounded, and quit when his eyes were swelling shut and he was completely exhausted.