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 P. Morris (ASN: 1243170), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company H, 111th Infantry Regiment, 28th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, at Les Grande Bois Chateau-de-Diable, France, 10 August 1918. After his organization had been compelled to retire in the face of a strong enemy attack, Corporal Morris made a reconnaissance of the bed of the Vesle River, and, wading through water shoulder deep, under heavy machine-gun fire, made five trips, carrying wounded from the north bank to a dressing station south of the river.