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 Paul (ASN: 8165), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Sanitary Service Unit No. 524, Ambulance Service, American Expeditionary Forces, near Fismes, France, 9 August 1918. After driving his ambulance continuously for a period of 15 hours, Private Paul voluntarily left his post and went four kilometers in advance for wounded, traveling a road subjected to heavy machine-gun and shell fire. He was instantly killed by a shell after returning with these wounded men and carrying them to a dugout.