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 John Powers (ASN: 1708565), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company E, 308th Infantry Regiment, 77th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near St. Juvin, France, 15 October 1918. After four men had been killed or wounded while attempting to deliver a message from the company commander to the rear, Sergeant Powers volunteered and carried the message through the area swept by machine-gun fire, with no regard for his personal safety.