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 William J. Brown (ASN: 199111), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 101st Field Signal Battalion, 26th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, at Riaville, France, 26 September 1918. At a critical time when the need for a barrage was imperative and telephone communication impossible Corporal Brown voluntarily carried a message to the artillery across an open field which was subject to intense artillery, machine-gun, and rifle fire.