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 Lieutenant (Infantry) William Penn Lewis, Jr., United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 115th Infantry Regiment, 29th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Verdun, France, 16 October 1918. Lieutenant Lewis, although ill at the time, led his platoon in an attack in the Bois-de-Grande Montagne against numerous enemy machine-gun nests and quickly dispatched the enemy troops therein. Finally he advanced alone and captured an enemy sniper from a tree and brought him into our lines. He remained with his company until 18 October when he collapsed with shell shock and exhaustion.