John W. Smith

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to John W. Smith, Private, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action during the Meuse-Argonne offensive, France, September 26, 1918. When the advance of his platoon had been temporarily halted by intensive fire from an enemy machine-gun nest, Private Smith displayed exceptional bravery and leadership when, on his own initiative, he organized a number of scattered troops and courageously led them forward, capturing the machine guns and several prisoners, thus enabling his platoon to continue the advance.