Merl E. Clark

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Merl E. Clark, Sergeant, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action at the Cote- de-Chatillon, east of Grand Pre, France, October 16, 1918. Sergeant Clark, after leading his platoon in a resolute assault across open ground swept by machine-gun fire, saw his left held up by machine-gun nest. Taking four soldiers, he flanked the enemy position, killed four Germans, capturing two prisoners, and two heavy machine guns, his own detachment suffering no casualties. Sergeant Clark executed this movement with exceptional skill, daring, and promptness, and in less than 10 minutes cleared the ground for the advance of two companies.