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 Corporal John L. Coakley (ASN: 131756), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Battery B, 17th Field Artillery, 2d Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Somme-Py, France, 9 October 1918. Although seriously wounded and still exposed to enemy shell fire Corporal Coakley refused treatment until three other members of his squad had been removed and attended to.