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 Joseph J. Gannon (ASN: 72088), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company E, 104th Infantry Regiment, 26th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, at Boise Brule, near Apremont, France, 12 April 1918. Corporal Gannon displayed courage and self-sacrificing devotion to duty in action against the enemy, voluntarily going with one comrade to an advanced post in a communication trench and with automatic rifle holding back advance of the enemy through the trench until his comrade was killed and he himself severely wounded.