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 Acken Van Hart (ASN: 1277637), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company G, 113th Infantry Regiment, 29th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Molleville Farm, France, October 10 – 25, 1918. Attached to the Battalion Scouts, Sergeant Van Hart repeatedly went out on dangerous patrols, secured valuable information, assisted in first-aid work, carried litters, rations, and water, and voluntarily made numerous trips through artillery and machine-gun fire with important messages.