The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to First Lieutenant (Infantry) William Joseph Alexander MacDonald, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 167th Infantry Regiment, 42d Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Landres-et-St. Georges, France, 14 October 1918. When the platoon commanded by Lieutenant MacDonald began the attack, it encountered a tremendously heavy artillery and machine-gun fire. Lieutenant MacDonald, realizing the difficult and hazardous position his men were in, and with utter disregard of his own personal safety, valorously led the platoon forward and attained the objective. In the performance of this brave act Lieutenant MacDonald so encouraged his men that they continued to carry on after he had made the supreme sacrifice.