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 J. Auber, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company E, 314th Infantry Regiment, 79th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Samogneux, France. 1 November 1918. While standing in the entrance of his dugout Private Auber saw a grenade, with fuse burning, rolling into the dugout where his comrades were sleeping. He picked up the grenade and attempted to throw it away, but it exploded in his hand, blowing off the hand and forearm.