The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Private John Heikkinen (ASN: 2306006), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company G, 125th Infantry Regiment, 32d Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Courmont and St. Martin, France, July 31 to 3 August 1918. Throughout the battle to force passage of the Ourcq River and capture the heights beyond, Private Heikkinen, a stretcher bearer, worked day and night, evacuating wounded under heavy artillery and machine-gun fire. On August 3 under violent shell fire opposite Mont St. Martin he made repeated trips between the firing line and the dressing station until wounded.