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 William J. Bergen (ASN: 91226), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company K, 165th Infantry Regiment, 42d Division, American Expeditionary Forces, while on duty as a litter bearer in action near Villers-sur-Fere, France, 28 July 1918. Private Bergen was killed while going into heavy machine-gun and shell fire to rescue the wounded. He had worked tirelessly and fearlessly throughout the attack on the enemy north of the River Ourcq.