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 Second Lieutenant Hugh Pratt Kidder (MCSN: 0-1820), United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism while serving with the Seventy-Eighth Company, Sixth Regiment (Marines), 2d Division, A.E.F., in action near Blanc Mont, France, October 2 – 3, 1918. On the morning of 2 October Second Lieutenant Kidder led a small patrol into enemy trenches and captured two strong machine-gun positions which were menacing his company. On 3 October with his platoon, Second Lieutenant Kidder attacked and captured four machine-gun nests, and many prisoners, after which he went to the aid of two of his wounded men. While attempting to better his position in the face of heavy machine-gun and artillery fire he was killed.