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 First Lieutenant (Medical Corps) William McIlwain, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 308th Infantry Regiment (Attached), 77th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Bazoches, France, 27 August 1918. From the south side of the Vesle, Lieutenant McIlwain volunteered to accompany the attacking platoons in the attack on the town of Bazoches. He crossed the river under heavy enemy artillery and machine-gun fire and entered the town. With utter disregard for his own personal danger Lieutenant McIlwain remained at the front caring for the wounded, without shelter, under direct enemy machine-gun fire, refusing to seek shelter until after all of the wounded had been evacuated.