The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Sergeant John Hilger, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company M, 26th Infantry Regiment, 1st Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Soissons, France. In spite of two wounds received on 19 July 1918, Sergeant Hilger led his platoon against a machine-gun nest and flanked and captured it, but as this courageous and useful deed was accomplished he was struck by a machine-gun bullet and killed.