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 Private First Class John P. McNamara (ASN: 89925), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company D, 165th Infantry Regiment, 42d Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Landres-et-St. Georges, France, October 14 – 15, 1918. Under direct and heavy enemy machine-gun and artillery fire, Private McNamara repeatedly carried messages across open ground during the attack upon Landres-et-St. Georges. Accompanying a patrol 14 October he was wounded in the arm and leg, but continued on with the patrol, which penetrated the enemy lines, where he engaged in hand-to-hand fighting. While thus engaged he was mortally wounded, and carried by his comrades to his own lines, where he died two days later. His splendid courage and devotion to duty inspired the men of his patrol to great endeavors.