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 First Class John Wilkins (ASN: 1787633), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Machine-Gun Company, 316th Infantry Regiment, 79th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Verdun, France, 3 and 4 November 1918. Repeatedly volunteering to act as runner, Private Wilkins made several hazardous journeys from headquarters to the machine-gun positions, a distance of 500 meters, at all times subjected to intense artillery bombardment.