The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Corporal Ben Cone (MCSN: 87113), United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism while serving with the Eighty-Second Company, Sixth Regiment (Marines), 2d Division, A.E.F., in action in the Bois-de-Belleau, France, on 6 June 1918. Corporal Cone showed exceptional heroism and coolness by advancing with an automatic rifle on a strongly defended enemy machine gun which he knew it was necessary to silence. He was killed while fearlessly going forward in this endeavor.