John H. Hilldring

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to John H. Hilldring, First Lieutenant, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action in the Fere Forest near Jaulgonne, France, July 22, 1918. During the attack on the slopes of Hill 210, Company K, 38th Infantry, lost contact with the unites of the battalion, becoming exposed to a severe flank attack by overwhelming forces of the enemy. Lieutenant Hilldring, in command of a platoon of Company K, repeatedly exposed himself to heavy enemy fire while making personal reconnaissances to the right flank to maintain liaison, consolidate the troops, and protect the company to withdraw. Earlier on this day, during an assault against the heights north of Charteves, Lieutenant Hilldring displayed unusual courage in leading two platoon runners in a flank attack against an element of the enemy defense which was firing into the flank and rear of his company, capturing the gun and several prisoners and driving off the other members of the hostile combat group.