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 John J. Keenan (ASN: 480917), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company D, 55th Infantry Regiment, 7th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Jaulny, France, 8 November 1918. With a detail of seven men, Corporal Keenan volunteered and went through severe artillery and machine-gun fire to bring in a platoon which had been cut off for five hours in front of a strongly fortified enemy position. Repeated efforts to reach the platoon during the day had failed, but Corporal Keenan and his party brought in the entire platoon, including several wounded men, among them the platoon commander.