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 J. Hughes (ASN: 2156830), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company M, 118th Infantry Regiment, 30th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Brancourt, France, 8 October 1918. Because his company had already suffered heavy casualties and he realized that all men possible were needed on the firing line, Private Hughes refused to be evacuated when seriously wounded, and continued in the advance till the objective had been reached and consolidated eight hours later.