Navy Federal Credit Union

Awards Received

  • Distinguished Service Cross

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    Private

    Regiment:

    118th Infantry Regiment

    Division:

    30th Division, American Expeditionary Forces

    Action Date:

    October 17, 1918

    War Department, General Orders 98 (1919)

    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 Private Williamson Alfred Smith (ASN: 1311036), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company E, 118th Infantry Regiment, 30th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, east of the La Selle River, France, 17 October 1918. Having become separated from his company in a fog, Private Smith, an automatic rifle gunner, attached himself to a company in the attacking wave and continued in the advance. Working his way through heavy machine-gun and shellfire he put his automatic rifle into action, poured an enfilading fire on the enemy and aided materially in breaking the hostile resistance at a critical time.