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 (Infantry) C. William Ryan, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 38th Infantry Regiment, 3d Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Romagne, France, 9 October 1918. Being severely wounded, Lieutenant Ryan led his platoon through heavy shell and machine-gun fire, holding his command intact and capturing or destroying several machine-guns.