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 Richard Shugg (ASN: 407355), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company G, 102d Field Signal Battalion, 27th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, east of Ronssoy, France, 29 September 1918. After the commander of the infantry platoon to which he was attached as a visual signalman had been killed Private Shugg took command of the platoon and exhibited remarkable gallantry and leadership in leading it into effective combat.