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 John Baker (ASN: 2716416), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company I, 368th Infantry Regiment, 92d Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Binarville, France, 28 September 1918. Although severely wounded in the right hand, losing two fingers, Private Baker, a runner continued three hundred yards through heavy enemy machine-gun fire to the forward battalion, and delivered his message alone, having been deserted by an unwounded fellow runner.