The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Captain (Medical Corps) John Van Rennselaer Hoff, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism while serving as Assistant Surgeon, Medical Corps, in action against hostile Sioux Indians at Wounded Knee, South Dakota, 29 December 1890. When the Indians made a sudden treacherous attack upon the troops Captain Hoff, with utter disregard for his personal safety, attended to the dressing of the wounds of fallen soldiers.