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 First Sergeant William Holz (ASN: 47461), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company H, 18th Infantry Regiment, 1st Division, American Expeditionary Forces, south of Soissons, France, 18 and 19 July 1918. Sergeant Holz exposed himself to heavy enemy fire reorganizing a platoon of his company and in leading it forward in the attack. He was wounded by a fragment of a high-explosive shell the following day while again leading his platoon in the attack. Although directed for evacuation to the hospital he refused to go, and gathered together a small group of stragglers and led them forward to the attacking line. Later he was forced to go to the rear on account of weakness from loss of blood.