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 Major (Infantry) William A. Aird, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 348th Machine-Gun Battalion, 91st Division, American Expeditionary Forces, between the Meuse River and the Argonne Forest, France, 26 September to 4 October 1918. Major Aird repeatedly reorganized the Infantry on the left flank of his division sector, and by his sound tactics and good judgment kept the attack progressing against snipers, machine-gun nests, and artillery. He personally, on several occasions, went forward to reconnoiter and then led the attack against the discovered positions. He captured three enemy 77-millimeter guns, and by sighting through the bore, turned their fire on hostile emplacements and machine-gun nests, destroying many such nests. His fearlessness, courage and initiative were an inspiration and example to those under him, and to his efforts much of the splendid progress on this portion of the field was due.