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 First Lieutenant (Infantry) William S. Hawkins, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 107th Infantry Regiment, 27th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near St. Souplet, France, France, October 17 – 18, 1918. Acting as liaison officer during the forcing of the La Selle River, Lieutenant Hawkins was severely wounded by an exploding shell. Undeterred by the weakened condition to which his wound reduced him, he bravely continued on, working untiringly under heavy shell and machine-gun fire, for two days until the advance of his battalion was checked.