William Edward Wood

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to William Edward Wood, Private, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near the La Selle River, France, October 17, 1918. When his squad had become separated from the company in a dense fog, Private Wood immediately attached himself and his squad to a company in the attacking wave and continued in the advance. He worked forward with a Lewis gun and so placed it that he delivered so severe a fire upon an enemy machine-gun nest that the crew deserted it. He continued firing until his gun was completely demolished by an enemy shell. Not daunted by this, Private Wood secured a rifle and continued to pour the fire of his whole squad upon the retreating enemy, killing many of them.