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 Robin Davis Cleland, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 28th Infantry Regiment, 1st Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Soissons, France, 21 July 1918. Although he was wounded before and in the attack upon Berzy-le-Sec, First Lieutenant Cleland declined an opportunity to be evacuated and led his platoon to its final objective, which he consolidated and held.