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 Joseph Steimel (ASN: 156875), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company D, 2d Engineers, 2d Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Bois-de-Belleau, France, 12 June 1918. Although wounded in several places by an enemy hand grenade, Private Steimel refused to go to the rear until his mission was completed. After receiving first aid, he again returned to the front line, although the entire line was at that time being subjected to a severe shelling.