Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Cornelius Beard, Captain, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action at the front near Chavignon, France, March 17, 1918.

Captain Beard was knocked down by a shell explosion, which caused him to lose consciousness. Upon regaining consciousness he searched for and found some of his men. During two hours he assisted Sergeant Reed and Corporal Belanger, of his detachment, back to the trenches, part of the time under fire of a German aviator and of German artillery. His energy, self-sacrifice, and spirit throughout the operation were of the highest order.