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 Sergeant John Earl Personett (ASN: 42098), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company C, 16th Infantry Regiment, 1st Division, American Expeditionary Forces, at Hill 272, near Fleville, France, 8 October 1918. Although severely wounded at the beginning of the attack, Sergeant Personett refused to be evacuated, but continued to direct his platoon in the advance. In an attack on an enemy machine-gun position, after all other members of his group were killed or wounded in the attack, he alone rushed the position and captured the gun and crew. This permitted the further advance of the company.