The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Distinguished Service Medal to Second Lieutenant Fred Thomas (MCSN: 0-1833), United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism in action near St. Etienne, France, on 2 October 1918. While endeavoring to establish a large company front which had become disconnected, Lieutenant Thomas encountered a large number of the enemy filtering through our lines. By strategic maneuvers he formed a strong resistance causing heavy casualties on the enemy and forcing their retreat after he himself had been seriously wounded.