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 John Francis O’Brien (MCSN: 99294), United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism while serving with the Sixty-Seventh Company, Fifth Regiment (Marines), 2d Division, A.E.F., in action near Vierzy, France, 18 July 1918. His company being held up and subjected to a severe machine-gun fire, Private O’Brien, having ascertained the location of the machine gun, alone and single-handed, crawled into the enemy’s lines, came upon the machine-gun crew from the rear, surprised them, and compelled their surrender. His gallant and courageous action enabled his company to advance.