William J. Brigando

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to William J. Brigando, Private First Class, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near Verdun, France, October 27, 1918. During the attack on Hill 360, north of Verdun, on October 27, Private Brigando, in charge of a squad, made a desperate attempt to silence a machine gun which was holding up the advance of the entire company. The nature of the terrain made this attack more than hazardous, but Private Brigando nevertheless persisted until the entire squad, himself included, had become casualties.