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 Sergeant William Henry Ward, Jr. (ASN: 1215870), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company M, 108th Infantry Regiment, 27th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Ronssoy, France, 29 September 1918. Although severely wounded, Sergeant Ward assumed command of his company, after the company commander had become a casualty, displaying great gallantry and bravery in leading them into action. While endeavoring to locate enemy machine-gun nests, he was killed.