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 Captain Gustave Ehrhardt, Army of France, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 140th Regiment of Infantry, 138th U.S. Infantry (Attached), 35th Division, A.E.F., near Cheppy, France, September 25-26, 1918. As liaison officer it was no part of Captain Ehrhardt’s duty to go into action with the forward elements of the regiment, but he insisted upon doing so. Undaunted by a wound in the left arm, caused by a bursting shell, he continued to advance in the face of very intense shell fire. He was again struck down by a shell fragment which shattered his right arm, but he rose and followed the regimental commander into the shell-swept area. He was knocked down a third time by shell fragments, from which he received wounds in the back so severe in character that he was unable to rise, later receiving additional wounds in the body.