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 Sergeant William T. McKernan (ASN: 65743), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company K, 102d Infantry Regiment, 26th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Verdun, France, October 24 – 29, 1918. After all the company officers had been killed or wounded Sergeant McKernan took command of the company and led it in effective attack against the enemy on October 25 and again on the 27th. After the attack on the enemy of October 28 Sergeant McKernan secured a box of rifle grenades, and, while a protective barrage was laid down with these, he crawled out in advance of the line and brought in several wounded comrades.