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 Second Lieutenant (Infantry) John Clyde McKimmey, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 141st Infantry Regiment, 36th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near St. Etienne, France, 8 October 1918. His organization harassed, and suffering severe losses from enemy machine-gun fire, Lieutenant McKimmey, accompanied by two sergeants, left shelter and advanced across an open area, exposed to enemy fire, in order to attack their position. He lost his life while making the attempt.