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 Sergeant John Patrick Diggins, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company D, 103d Infantry Regiment, 26th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, at Marcheville, France, 26 September 1918. Sergeant Diggins, with Private Ivor Grindle, climbed out of a trench in the face of severe shrapnel and machine-gun fire, proceeded 150 yards across an open space to the aid of a wounded officer, and dressed his wounds.