John J. Cloonan

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to John J. Cloonan, Private First Class, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action at Belleau Wood, France, July 20, 1918, while acting as an automatic-rifle man. His assistant having been wounded, Private Cloonan advanced under a heavy concentration of enemy machine-gun fire and artillery fire and volunteered to destroy, single-handed, two enemy machine guns which were directing a severe fire against the flank of his company. With great bravery and utter disregard for his own safety, he successfully accomplished his mission; his act undoubtedly save the lives of many of his comrades and also permitted the further advance of his company.