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) Vernon Benjamin Zacher, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 359th Infantry Regiment, 90th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Bantheville, France, 1 November 1918. Without regard for his own safety, Lieutenant Zacher led his platoon to the capture of two machine-guns which were holding up the advance of his battalion. Although painfully wounded he would not stop until his objective had been reached.