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 Corporal Louis E. Johnston (ASN: 1319169), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Machine-Gun Company, 120th Infantry Regiment, 30th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Mazinghein, France, October 18 – 19, 1918. When his platoon became separated from the battalion to which it was attached, Corporal Johnston proceeded under heavy shell fire along a road with which he was unfamiliar and established liaison with his battalion.