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 (Corps of Engineers) John A. Focht, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company B, 315th Engineers, 90th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Madeline Farm, 27 October 1918. Knocked down and severely wounded when enemy shells hit the building where his company was at mess, Lieutenant Focht remained in the shelled area and, with the assistance of one of his men, carried out the wounded to a place of safety, where their wounds could be dressed.