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 Sergeant Joseph L. Kenngott (ASN: 1746374), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company K, 311th Infantry Regiment, 78th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, northwest of Grand Pre, France, 25 October 1918, and 1 November 1918. Sergeant Kenngott showed great fearlessness and bravery on 25 October 1918, when he made a reconnaissance on the right flank of his company after the objective had been gained. Without waiting for orders Sergeant Kenngott took four men with rifles and rifle grenades and established a position on this flank which was exposed to heavy enemy machine-gun fire. He bravely maintained this position throughout the day, stubbornly resisting all enemy efforts against the flank, driving back several patrols, and personally putting two machine guns out of action, killing or wounding the crew. As platoon leader on 1 November 1918, Sergeant Kenngott hastily organized the remnants of his company after it had advanced into an ambuscade of enemy machine guns, succeeded in extracting it from this perilous position, consolidated the position, and when reinforcements arrived led the attack which resulted in the destruction of the enemy machine-gun nests and permitted his regiment’s subsequent advance.