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 Etienne Escudier, Army of France, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 79th Regiment of Infantry (French), 59th U.S. Infantry (Attached), 4th Division, A.E.F., in the Bois-De-Brieulles, France, 29 September 1918. Though he was not required to do so by the duties of his position, Lieutenant Escudier volunteered to ascertain the source of an extremely heavy artillery fire, which was being directed upon the American infantry. In accomplishing this mission he exposed himself to heavy shell and machine-gun fire for three hours and secured accurate information, displaying absolute fearlessness and indifference to his own personal safety.