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 (Medical Corps) William E. Ashton, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Medical Detachment, 309th Field Artillery (Attached), 78th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Marcq, France, 17 October 1918. The mess trench at Headquarters, 155th Infantry Brigade, was struck by a shell as the officers were sitting down to their evening meal, several being killed and a greater number wounded by the shell exploding on the edge of the trench. Major Ashton, on hearing of the disaster insisted on going with the ambulances himself, notwithstanding that the road to and the terrain occupied by the brigade were under heavy artillery fire. With great courage he rendered aid to the wounded, during which time he was subjected to constant explosion of phosgene shells and, in order to perform his duties, he was forced to remove his gas mask.