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 Lieutenant Colonel (Field Artillery) William H. Donahue, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 151st Field Artillery, 42d Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Pexonne, France, on 5 March 1918. Lieutenant Colonel Donahue entered the quarry of Battery C, 151st Field Artillery, when it was under accurately adjusted shell fire, for the purpose of aiding the officers and men of that battery when he might with propriety have stayed away.