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 John Thomas Wells (ASN: 1315439), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company E, 119th Infantry Regiment, 30th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Bellicourt, France, 29 September 1918. Wounded at the start of an advance, Sergeant Wells continued in command of his platoon; and, engaging in hand-to-hand fighting, bayoneted three Germans and captured several others. He displayed marked personal bravery, leading his platoon ably until forced to retire because of loss of blood from his wound.