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 Private Walter Daugherty Ballard (ASN: 41872), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company B, 16th Infantry Regiment, 1st Division, American Expeditionary Forces, throughout the operations south of Soissons, France, July 18 to 22, 1918. Private Ballard, with extraordinary heroism on 21 July 1918, with two companions, captured two machine guns that were causing heavy losses to his company.