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 Private First Class George W. Johnston (ASN: 112606), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company A, 149th Machine-Gun Battalion, 42d Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Sergy, France, July 29 to 1 August 1918. When all the other runners were either wounded or exhausted, Private First Class Johnston maintained liaison by constantly carrying messages through zones swept by intense enemy fire. He often volunteered to assist stretcher bearers in removing wounded from the battlefield.