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 Joseph Piovano (ASN: 542785), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company K, 7th Infantry Regiment, 3d Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Cierges, France, 7 October 1918. When the advance of his company was halted by machine-gun fire, Sergeant Piovano crawled to an exposed position and opened fire on the enemy, although a target for the fire of several machine guns. He killed several of the enemy with rifle fire and so disorganized the enemy that his organization was able to advance with slight loss.