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 H. Hilldring, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company K, 38th Infantry Regiment, 3d Division, American Expeditionary Forces, in the Fere Forest near Jaulgonne, France, 22 July 1918. During the attack on the slopes of Hill 210, Company K, 38th Infantry, lost contact with the unites of the battalion, becoming exposed to a severe flank attack by overwhelming forces of the enemy. Lieutenant Hilldring, in command of a platoon of Company K, repeatedly exposed himself to heavy enemy fire while making personal reconnaissances to the right flank to maintain liaison, consolidate the troops, and protect the company to withdraw. Earlier on this day, during an assault against the heights north of Charteves, Lieutenant Hilldring displayed unusual courage in leading two platoon runners in a flank attack against an element of the enemy defense which was firing into the flank and rear of his company, capturing the gun and several prisoners and driving off the other members of the hostile combat group.