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 Sergeant John Joseph Read (ASN: 1784719), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company C, 315th Infantry Regiment, 79th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Molleville Farm, north of Verdun, France, 5 November 1918. Sergeant Read led the advance of his platoon through heavy enemy fire in the attack against a strongly-held enemy position. Although cut off from his company he continued to advance until mortally wounded. Prior to the performance of the above act he distinguished himself by volunteering to conduct and conducting ration details over routes exposed to heavy artillery fire.