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 Captain (Infantry) William A. Cunningham, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 321st Machine-Gun Battalion, 82d Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Sommerance, France, 12 October 1918. Captain Cunningham, though painfully wounded in the face by shrapnel when his battalion was seriously engaged, continued to lead his men through heavy shell fire, leading them with skill and inspiring them with courage.