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 Brigadier Joseph Vacarisas, Army of France, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 19th Battery, E.V.N., 70th Regiment, A.L.G.P., Army of France, near Mortzwiller, Alsace, 1 September 1918. During an unusually heavy enemy bombardment of the railroad station, Brigadier Vacarisas entered the area and assisted the train crew in removing to safety nine carloads of ammunition. The mission was accomplished despite the fact that the firing had damaged the track and had scattered branches of trees over the route.