William J. Nixon

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to William J. Nixon, Private, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near Fismette, France, August 10 – 13, 1918. Seeing five of our men lying wounded on the enemy side of the street in the town of Fismette, Private Nixon voluntarily attempted the rescue of them, despite the fact that the enemy was pouring a deluge of machine-gun fire on the location. He organized a counterattacking force and repeatedly exposed himself in attacking the nest, finally succeeding in his mission of rescuing the wounded.