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 of Infantry Robert Merel, Army of France, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 91st Division, A.E.F. (Attached), near Spitaals-Bosschen and Audenarde, Belgium, October 31- 1 November 1918. Armed with an automatic rifle, Lieutenant Merel went forward alone and killed the gunner of an enemy machine-gun whose fire had been holding up the advancing line.