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 (Field Artillery) William E. Word, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 151st Field Artillery, 42d Division, American Expeditionary Forces, during the action near Pexonne, France, on 5 March 1918. First Lieutenant Word displayed unusual presence of mind and initiative by the effective manner in which he assisted in directing the operations of Battery C, 151st Field Artillery, when it was under particularly heavy bombardment.