Latimer A. Johns

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Latimer A. Johns, Second Lieutenant, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near Gesnes, France, September 30,1918, Lieutenant Johns was in command of a platoon in support of an assaulting battalion of infantry. During the attack he went far ahead of the infantry to establish an observation post, where he directed fire from his guns, thereby rendering valuable assistance to the advancing battalion. After several attempts, he went through a heavy enemy barrage and enfilading machine-gun fire, but when returning to his post he was killed.