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 C. Duffy, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company F, 53d Infantry Regiment, 6th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Landersbach, Alsace, 4 October 1918. During an attack by a German raiding party of about 300 men, Second Lieutenant Duffy took command of a post where the five men manning it had been killed or wounded by liquid fire. By his coolness and fearless exposure of himself he was able to hold the post with a small reinforcement. After the raid he removed some 20 grenades which had become dangerously hot, due to the fire, and were about to explode.