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 Private Walter D. White (ASN: 1750790), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company B, 309th Infantry Regiment, 78th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near the Bois-des-Loges, France, 1 November 1918. While acting as runner, Private White volunteered to carry a message across a long stretch of open country which was subjected to heavy machine-gun and artillery fire. He successfully crossed the space and delivered his message, but in an attempt to return, he was killed by a rain of machine-gun bullets. His conduct served as an inspiration to other runners.