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 Sergeant John Henry Fling (ASN: 1453190), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company I, 138th Infantry Regiment, 35th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, at Cheppy, France, 26 and 27 September 1918. When his company commander was killed and his company left without officers, Sergeant Fling took command of the company, successfully withdrew it from the midst of machine-gun nests, reorganized it and continued the advance. He was severely wounded in the head next day, but insisted on remaining on duty with his company and advancing in the attack, notwithstanding the fact that the advance was over a gassed area and his wounds prevented his wearing a gas mask.