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 Richard D. Johnson (ASN: 275890), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company E, 127th Infantry Regiment, 32d Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Cierges, France, 30 July 1918. Coming unexpectedly upon a German machine gun, Sergeant Johnson threw himself upon it as it started firing, being himself killed, but preventing any casualties among the members of his own platoon, the enemy gunners being made prisoners.