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 Sergeant John M. Nowak (ASN: 274797), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company K, 127th Infantry Regiment, 32d Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Fismes, France, 4 August 1918. After being severely wounded Sergeant Nowak refused to go to the rear for first aid, but bravely continued in the advance. While he was helping to reform his company under a heavy machine-gun barrage shortly afterwards he was killed.