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 Jay Zeldam (ASN: 281431), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company M, 126th Infantry Regiment, 32d Division, American Expeditionary Forces, north of Cierges, France, 1 August 1918. Following an assault, in which he was wounded in the leg by a machine-gun bullet, and when further advance was impossible because of a barrage, Private Zeldam took refuge in a shell hole. From this shelter he observed a comrade who was seriously wounded and needed assistance. Despite heavy artillery and machine-gun fire, he crawled 20 yards through the open, reached the helpless man, and took him back to the shell hole. After the two had lain in the shell hole nearly the entire day, Private Zeldam, leaving his canteen with his companion, crawled across the danger zone and obtained assistance to carry the other wounded man to a dressing station.