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 J. Burke, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 165th Infantry Regiment, 42d Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Villers-sur-Fere, France, July 27 – 28, 1918. Lieutenant Burke was instructed by his regimental commander to take four men and locate the position of the assaulting battalion. Upon leaving regimental headquarters he was severely wounded but continued on his mission in the face of unusually heavy artillery and machine-gun fire. He succeeded in locating the battalion only after four hours’ search, constantly under fire, whereupon he returned and reported to his regimental commander.