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 First Lieutenant (Infantry) John Marshall Garris, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with Company C, 1st Battalion, 133d Infantry Regiment, 34th Infantry Division, in action against enemy forces near Borgo Montella, Italy, on 9 May 1944. Lieutenant Garris voluntarily made a daring daylight reconnaissance to locate enemy dispositions in an area where all previous patrols had been repulsed. Crawling alone across 450 yards, Lieutenant Garris moved toward House 412, an enemy position inside barbed wire about 450 yards from friendly lines. He passed the house unobserved and worked his way along the side of a road, where he discovered a ditch 20 yards beyond the house. Crawling along the ditch he entered a small culvert when he heard noise on the other side, and observed an Italian soldier drinking water from the ditch. Nearby he observed mess kits and rifles and the entrances to several dugouts cut into the bank of the ditch. Returning to his own lines he reported what he had found, and returned with three volunteers armed with Tommy guns and grenades, returning with nine German and three Italian prisoners. First Lieutenant Garris’ extraordinary heroism, personal bravery and zealous devotion to duty exemplify the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Army.