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. Pederson (ASN: 3125361), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company H, 307th Infantry Regiment, 77th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Oches, France, 4 November 1918. Exposing himself to heavy machine-gun fire, Private Pederson crossed an open field 300 yards wide and rescued a severely wounded comrade.