William M. Jutras

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to William M. Jutras, First Lieutenant, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near Riaville, France, September 26, 1918. When the platoon on the right flank of his company was threatened by an enfilading movement of enemy machine guns, Lieutenant Jutras carried a message to the commander of that platoon through deadly machinegun and minenwerfer bombardment. It then being necessary to establish liaison with the company on the right in order to save this platoon from annihilation, and knowing that he faced almost certain death, this gallant officer unhesitatingly volunteered for this mission and crossed a terrain swept by converging machinegun fire. Mortally wounded, he delivered his message in time to save his platoon.