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 Lieutenant of Cavalry Bernard C. F. M. X. E. G. Le Pelletier de Woillemont, Army of France, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving as French Liaison Officer, 2d Division, A.E.F. (Attached), near St. Etienne, France, 9 October 1918. Lieutenant de Woillemont, with Colonel James C. Rhea, United States Army, voluntarily undertook an important reconnaissance under hazardous circumstances during the Masif Blanc Mont operations, at a time when accurate information concerning our advanced positions was greatly needed and could not be obtained from other sources. In an automobile, whose conspicuous appearance drew the concentrated fire of artillery and machine-guns, they proceeded one mile across open ground to the town of St. Etienne, where our troops were in contact with the enemy. Under fire these two officers reconnoitered the front lines, locating the position of the enemy, as well as that of the French units on the flank, and returned across the open with complete, reliable, and timely information of the highest military value in subsequent operations.