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 Lieutenant (Infantry) Joseph Aloysius Molloy, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 23d Infantry Regiment, 2d Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Vierzy, France, 19 July 1918. Lieutenant Molloy was leading his platoon through a heavily gassed area, when a large shell struck in the middle of his column, killing 15 men and wounding a like number. He himself was badly shocked, but immediately set to work administering to the wounded, despite the darkness, terrific shelling, and the necessity of wearing a gas mask, he administered first aid to practically all of the wounded, single-handed, and secured their transportation to the rear.