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 Private William A. Edsall (ASN: 281508), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company M, 126th Infantry Regiment, 32d Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Romagne, France, 14 October 1918. In an attack on Cote Dame Marie the 126th Infantry was held up, owing to intense enemy machine-gun fire and grenades. Private Edsall volunteered as a member of a combat patrol, which cut through the enemy lines, captured 10 machine guns, killed and captured 15 of the enemy, and forced a large number to surrender, clearing the Cote Dame Marie of the enemy, thus enabling the regiment to continue their advance.