Gus J. Williams

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Gus J. Williams, Private, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action at Naguilian, Luzon, Philippine Islands, December 7, 1899. When the command of which he was a member was held up in the crossing of the Rio Grande de Cagayan by rifle fire from a well-entrenched enemy, and being without boats or rafts with which to cross, Private Williams with five other members of his company volunteered to swim the river. Displaying great gallantry and with utter disregard for his life, he swam the river in the face of heavy rifle fire, returned on a raft, secured arms and ammunition, crossed a second time, and took part in an attack which drove a superior force of the enemy from their trenches and the town occupied by them, thereby making possible the further advance of his company.