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 First Lieutenant (Infantry) John Oliver Ranson, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 371st Infantry Regiment, 93d Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Ardeuil, France, 30 September 1918. When his company was held up by an enemy machine-gun nest, Lieutenant Ranson volunteered and led his platoon in an attack on the position and, while attempting to carry out his mission, was killed.