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 Sergeant John L. MacDonnell, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company M, 107th Infantry Regiment, 27th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, at Guillemont Farm, near Bony, France, 28 September 1918. When the advance of his platoon was held up by machine-gun fire which was harassing his position, Sergeant MacDonnell voluntarily led a detachment of his platoon over the top and destroyed the machine-gun nest. His courageous actions were an inspiration to all his comrades.