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 Captain (Ordnance Corps) John Alexander Kress, United States Army, for distinguished conduct in action while serving with Ordnance Department, near Umatilla, Oregon, 8 July 1878. Captain Kress volunteered, though not charged with combat duties, to organized and lead an expedition against bands of hostile Piute-Bannock Indians and to prevent their crossing the Columbia river. Captain Kress seized a river boat and equipped it as a gunboat and by his gallant and fearless leadership in patrolling the Columbia River was successful in five attacks upon the Indians, both on land and from the river; succeeded in capturing and killing their horses, destroyed their boats, arms, and ammunition, and camp equipage, thus frustrating their plan of spreading the war among the Indians to the North.