William A. Haas

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to William A. Haas, Corporal, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action on Hill 378, near Verdun, France, November 5, 1918. Corporal Haas with two other men occupied a small shell hole on the front line, there being no other troops near except 15 men who occupied a large shell hole a few yards to their right. The morning was foggy and about 60 Germans crept through the lines, outflanked the men in the large shell hole, disarmed them, and ordered them to stand fast. Corporal Haas and his two companions immediately opened rapid fire, killing six of the Germans and completely routing the others, thereby rescuing their 15 comrades from the hands of the enemy.