The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Second Lieutenant (Infantry) William Chalmers Acheson, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving Company A, 320th Machine-Gun Battalion, 82d Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near St. Juvin, France, 14 October 1918. Seeing a flank position exposed by the non-arrival of an infantry regiment, Lieutenant Acheson promptly moved his four guns to the position and held off a strong attack by the enemy. During the action 30 prisoners were taken, but nearly all his platoon had been killed or wounded. Lieutenant Acheson personally operated a gun and, although wounded, poured a most effective fire into the ranks of the enemy, continuing until he died from loss of blood.