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 Second Lieutenant (Infantry) John W. Trager, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 124th Machine-Gun Battalion, 31st Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Consenvoye, France, 8 October 1918. Upon their own initiative, Lieutenant Trager, who was on duty as transportation officer, and another officer, crossed the Meuse River to reconnoiter a supply route. They were fired on by two enemy machine-guns, but disregarding the heavy machine-gun and shell fire they advanced on the enemy positions and captured the two machine guns, together with 31 Austrian prisoners.