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 Private Ernest Washington Porter (MCSN: 85271), United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism while serving with the Twenty-Third Company, Sixth Machine-Gun Battalion, Sixth Regiment (Marines), 2d Division, A.E.F., in action near Thiaucourt, France, 15 September 1918. While taking cover with the remainder of his gun crew from a heavy artillery barrage, Private Porter answered a call for volunteers to combat an enemy aeroplane. Upon reaching his gun he was instantly killed by an aerial bomb.