The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Army Distinguished Service Medal to Lieutenant Colonel (Field Artillery) William Alexander McCain, United States Army, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished services to the Government of the United States, in a duty of great responsibility during World War I. As Ordnance Officer of the 5th Army Corps, Colonel McCain displayed superior judgment, exceptional ability, and zealous devotion to duty, and executed successfully the difficult problems of the supply of munitions, thereby contributing materially to the success of the operations of the 5th Army Corps, and rendering important services to the American Expeditionary Forces, in the operations against the enemy during the St. Mihiel and Meuse-Argonne offensives.