The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Sergeant William B. Hook (ASN: 568360), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company B, 4th Engineers, 4th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near St. Thibault, France, August 9. 1918. While a member of a party engaged in constructing a bridge across the Vesle River, in advance of the Infantry, Sergeant Hook voluntarily plunged into the stream under heavy enemy machine-gun and grenade fire, swam with a line to the opposite bank, which was held by the enemy; and securely tied the end of the bridge to the opposite bank.