William H. Taylor

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to William H. Taylor, First Lieutenant (Air Service), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near Pont-a-Mousson, France, May 28, 1918. Accompanied by Lieutenant Hambleton, Lieutenant Taylor answered an alert to Lironville and encountered five enemy planes in the vicinity of St. Mihiel. As they approached, the enemy turned away. Lieutenant Taylor and Lieutenant Hambleton followed and at Pont-a-Mousson again came up with them, at 2,500 meters. Lieutenant Hambleton attacked the lowest one, firing 20 rounds and forcing it from the formation, while Lieutenant Taylor remained above to protect him and to keep off the other enemy planes. An enemy bullet having shot the cross-section wires of Lieutenant Hambleton’s plane away, the splinters from same cutting his cheek and right shoulder, he turned from combat to ascertain damage to his plane. As the enemy plan was falling Lieutenant Taylor opened fire and immediately brought the German down.