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 Captain (Infantry) William Arthur Sirmon, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 325th Infantry Regiment, 82d Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Clemery, France, 16 August 1918. At an imminent risk of his own life Captain Sirmon rescued another officer by carrying him at night through enemy fire and under heavy machine-gun fire for 300 yards to a place of safety, where he dressed the wounds of the disabled officer.