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 First Lieutenant (Infantry) Joseph H. Johnston, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 322d Infantry Regiment, 81st Division, American Expeditionary Forces, at Beulay, France, 15 October 1918. Lieutenant Johnston led a daylight patrol behind the German front line for the purpose of securing information as to the reported retreat of the enemy. Discovering an enemy machine gun, he led his men in an attempt to capture it, but when they were about twenty-five yards away, the gun opened fire and this officer was mortally wounded. Upon being pulled into a trench by members of the patrol, he manifested no anxiety concerning himself, but urged his men to continue their mission.