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 Whiting Friel (ASN: 2705793), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company K, 145th Infantry Regiment, 37th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Eyne, Belgium, 2 November 1918. In full view of the enemy and under heavy artillery and machine-gun fire, Corporal Friel, with two other men, swam the Escaut River and assisted in the construction of a footbridge. The construction of this bridge aided materially in the later successful operations of American troops in this vicinity.