John J. O'Brien

Sergeant, U. S. Army

Distinguished Service Cross

GENERAL ORDERS:
War Department, General Orders No. 23 (1919)
CITATION:
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Sergeant John J. O'Brien (ASN: 156804), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company D, 2nd Engineers, 2nd Division, A.E.F., near St. Etienne-a-Arnes, France, October 5 - 7, 1918.
Advancing ahead of the infantry, Sergeant O'Brien made several reconnaissances of the town of St. Etienne-a-Arnes; and, in spite of the danger exposed to machine gun fire and artillery of our own and enemy guns, he procured and returned with valuable information.

On 19 November 1918 awarded the French Croix de Guerre with palm.