Maurice E. Johnson

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Maurice E. Johnson, Corporal, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near Binarville, France, October 2 – 7, 1918. Two platoons of his company being surrounded by strong enemy forces, Corporal Johnson continued to operate his machine gun with little rest for five days. Each day small enemy groups endeavored to capture the machine gun, which was stationed on the right flank of the company; on each occasion Corporal Johnson remained with his gun in the face of deadly enemy fire, delivering bursts of fire which drove the enemy raiders to cover, killing and wounding many of them. Wounded on October 4 by grenade fire, he still remained at his post; he was again wounded on October 5. On October 7, owing to his wounds, his machine gun was temporarily out of action and the ground held by riflemen. On the afternoon of this day the enemy launched an attack against the right flank, using liquid fire, whereupon Corporal Johnson, in spite of his exhaustion due to his wounds, resumed operation of his machine gun, and with such effect as to repulse the enemy.