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 First Lieutenant (Infantry) John Clark Burgard, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 362d Infantry Regiment, 91st Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Epinonville, France, 27 September 1918. On duty as battalion liaison officer, Lieutenant Burgard was establishing the battalion post of command at daybreak, when he suddenly discovered a party of the enemy placing machine guns so as to fire upon the position from the flank. Firing a rifle to give the alarm, Lieutenant Burgard advanced toward the enemy, followed by the battalion headquarters group, whom he led in a vigorous attack on the hostile force, killing seven, and capturing forty-three of the enemy, six machine guns and two light machine rifles, with but one casualty among his own men.