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 Rees (ASN: 2258473), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company M, 361st Infantry Regiment, 91st Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Gesnes, France, 29 September 1918. Sergeant Rees fearlessly led his platoon in the face of a murderous fire in an attack on a machine-gun nest, and by his personal example contributed largely to the success of the attack by his platoon.