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 First Class William Rykus (ASN: 549282), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Machine-Gun Company, 38th Infantry Regiment, 3d Division, American Expeditionary Forces, at Launay, near Chateau-Thierry, France, 15 July 1918. Private Rykus repeatedly ran through enemy machine-gun and rifle fire with important messages. Being twice wounded in those missions, he died from the effects thereof.