William H. Krause

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to William H. Krause, First Sergeant, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near Ronssoy, France, September 29, 1918. First Sergeant Krause displayed great gallantry during the operations against the Hindenburg line. A smoke barrage was put down by the enemy between his company and the company on the left. The company commander having been wounded, Sergeant Krause sent a soldier to establish liaison with the company on the left. When this soldier was severely wounded and unable to accomplish his mission, Sergeant Krause went himself and succeeded in reaching the company. While returning to his own company, Sergeant Krause met a party of Germans attempting to break through the gap between the two companies. In a personal encounter he killed a German officer and forced the rest of the party to withdraw.