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 McKinley Kouts (ASN: 2257105), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company D, 361st Infantry Regiment, 91st Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Gesnes, France, 26 September 1918. Sergeant Kouts, together with two other soldiers, captured three enemy machine guns and 20 prisoners.