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 Second Lieutenant (Armor) John R. Webb, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 301st Tank Battalion, Tank Corps, American Expeditionary Forces, near Bellicourt, France, 29 September 1918, while his crew was engaged in digging out the tank, which had become ditched in a shell hole, in front of the main Hindenburg line, an enemy machine-gun opened fire on them at a distance of 30 yards. Being unable to use his guns on account of his position, Lieutenant Webb crawled forward to the machine-gun and killed the enemy gunners with his pistol. His act enabled the men to free the tank, which subsequently aided the advancing infantry.