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 Private Joseph Thornton (ASN: 737074), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company L, 11th Infantry Regiment, 5th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Thiaucourt, France, 12 September 1918. By the effective use of an automatic rifle, Private Thornton advanced without aid on the entrenched position of the enemy, forcing their surrender. Despite severe wounds, he continued to advance and assisted in locating and routing other machine-gun nests.