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 Hardy Mecom (ASN: 251505), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company E, 125th Infantry Regiment, 32d Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Cierges, France, 31 July 1918. Though severely wounded while advancing with his platoon in the face of heavy fire from enemy machine guns, Private Mecom refused to return to the rear for first aid and he not only continued in the advance but with another soldier successfully attacked a machine-gun nest.