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 Captain (Infantry) John Brent Mayes, Jr., United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 120th Infantry Regiment, 30th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Bellicourt, France, 29 September 1918. Captain Mayes, with nine other soldiers, comprising his company headquarters detachment, cleaned out enemy dugouts along the banks of a canal, capturing 242 prisoners.