The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Private Willard Duffield Petty (ASN: 1386691), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company B, 131st Infantry Regiment, 33d Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Consenvoye, France, 10 October 1918. Showing utter disregard of personal danger, Private Petty went to the rescue of his wounded platoon leader who lay in a zone covered by heavy enemy machine-gun fire, being himself mortally wounded in the, attempt. Private Petty volunteered to attempt the rescue, which cost him his life, after two of his comrades had been killed and another wounded in similar trials.