For extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Headquarters Detachment, 112^th Engineers, 37^th Division, A. E. F., near Huevel, Belgium on 2 November 1918. Under cover of darkness Sergeant First Class Smithhiser swam the Scheldt River at a point where it was covered by hostile machine-guns and reconnoitered a road for a distance of 500 meters, returning with valuable information.