John C. Burgard

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to John C. Burgard, First Lieutenant, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near Epinonville, France, September 27, 1918. On duty as battalion liaison officer, Lieutenant Burgard was establishing the battalion post of command at daybreak, when he suddenly discovered a party of the enemy placing machine guns so as to fire upon the position from the flank. Firing a rifle to give the alarm, Lieutenant Burgard advanced toward the enemy, followed by the battalion headquarters group, whom he led in a vigorous attack on the hostile force, killing seven, and capturing forty-three of the enemy, six machine guns and two light machine rifles, with but one casualty among his own men.