William F. Brooks

The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to William F. Brooks, Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as a Squad Leader in Company B, 2d Battalion, 101st Infantry Regiment, 26th Infantry Division, in action against enemy forces on 5 December 1944, near Sarre Union, France. Technical Sergeant Brooks voluntarily crawled forward two hundred yards through heavy enemy fire to destroy four hostile machine guns whose cross-fire had pinned down his platoon. Using hand grenades and automatic rifle fire, he wiped out the weapons, killed fifteen of the enemy and compelled the surrender of twenty others. Shortly thereafter, when his platoon was counterattacked by a large force of riflemen supported by four tanks, he borrowed a bazooka and firing four rockets, completely disabled one tank and forced the other to withdraw. Staff Sergeant Brooks’ intrepid actions, personal bravery and zealous devotion to duty at the cost of his life, exemplify the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflect great credit upon himself, the 26th Infantry Division, and the United States Army.