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 Sergeant John J. Conlin (ASN: 1706995), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company L, 307th Infantry Regiment, 77th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Merval, France, 14 September 1918. Although wounded in the head by machine-gun bullet during an attack, Sergeant Conlin continued to lead his platoon in the advance and organized his position after the objective had been captured. He refused to be evacuated until loss of blood prevented his continuing with his company.