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 First Class John Klimentiev Zlotnikoff (ASN: 2384778), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company L, 60th Infantry Regiment, 5th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Dun-sur-Meuse, France, 5 October 1918. When his company was held up and unable to cross the river, because of the destruction of a pontoon bridge, Private Zlotnikoff swam the river, carrying an automatic rifle, in the face of terrific machine-gun fire and direct artillery fire.