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 Second Lieutenant (Infantry) William S. Brittain, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Machine-Gun Company, 125th Infantry Regiment, 32d Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Juvigny, France, 31 August 1918. Lieutenant Brittain by his aggressive spirit and action when out beyond the main Infantry line pushed forward unsupported with his platoon and captured 2 German officers, 94 men, and 8 machine guns. From this point of action Lieutenant Brittain with his platoon proceeded in a direction from which firing could be heard and by his quick decision captured 2 enemy field guns, caliber 105, and 6 trench mortars, and immediately thereafter attacked and captured 30 prisoners and 3 additional heavy machine guns.