William J. A. Macdonald

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to William J. A. MacDonald, First Lieutenant, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near Landres-et-St. Georges, France, October 14, 1918. When the platoon commanded by Lieutenant MacDonald began the attack, it encountered a tremendously heavy artillery and machine-gun fire. Lieutenant MacDonald, realizing the difficult and hazardous position his men were in, and with utter disregard of his own personal safety, valorously led the platoon forward and attained the objective. In the performance of this brave act Lieutenant MacDonald so encouraged his men that they continued to carry on after he had made the supreme sacrifice.