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 John F. Lanergan (ASN: 60014), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company B, 101st Infantry Regiment, 26th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Verdun, France, 23 October 1918, and in the Belie Bois, France, 27 October 1918. While engaged as runner during the attack on Houppy Bois on 23 October Private Lanergan made repeated trips over an area swept by machine-gun and artillery fire. On 27 October after all his superior officers had become casualties, Private Lanergan assembled scattered combat groups and, after reorganizing them, led them in a successful counterattack against the enemy.