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 First Class Brainard W. Johnson (ASN: 1290596), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Sanitary Detachment, 116th Infantry Regiment (Attached), 29th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Verdun, France. Private Johnson repeatedly exposed himself to heavy machine-gun fire in giving first-aid to the wounded and carrying them to the rear. Through his devotion to duty and disregard of danger many lives were saved.