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 A. Parker (ASN: 1497348), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company G, 9th Infantry Regiment, 2d Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Medeah Ferme, France, 8 October 1918. In addition to his duties as runner, Private Parker volunteered and assisted in cleaning out many dugouts. At one dugout he was attacked by a number of Germans. He counterattacked with grenades, capturing ten prisoners and two light machine-guns.