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 First Class William J. Craven (ASN: 3180), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 101st Ambulance Company, 101st Sanitary Train, 26th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, at Wadonville, France, September 25 – 26, 1918. Private Craven assisted in establishing a dressing station in a dugout in an advanced position. When it was destroyed by a shell he worked unceasingly in the open under fire from enemy machine-guns and snipers, caring for the wounded. He remained at his post for several hours after his station had been ordered closed, permitting neither his own exhaustion nor the enemy fire to deter him from aiding the wounded.