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 Corporal Walter W. Branson (ASN: 42850), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company F, 16th Infantry Regiment, 1st Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Soissons, France, 19 July 1918. Upon finding six men who during the advance had become separated from their companies, he voluntarily organized them into a detachment, led an attack upon two machine guns, killed seven of the crew, and captured five.