Paul Willis
Distinguished Service Cross
U.S. Army
World War I
General Orders No. 20, W.D., 1919
The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Paul Willis, Sergeant, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near St. Etienne, France, October 8, 1918. Upon the death of his platoon commander, Sergeant Willis took command of the platoon and led his men in an attack against the enemy. Although wounded several times, he continued to lead his men until killed by machine-gun fire.