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 First Lieutenant (Infantry) Patrick Aloysius Connolly, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism while serving with 21st Infantry, in action near San Jose, Batangas, Luzon, Philippine Islands, 23 December 1901. While leading his detachment of 7 men in an attack against a band of 23 insurgent bolomen, which resulted in a desperate hand-to-hand encounter, Lieutenant Connolly displayed personal bravery, courage, and leadership qualities of the highest order, and despite a severe wound on the head received early in the engagement he heroically continued the fight until all the enemy were killed.