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 Sergeant William Thomas (ASN: 1717272), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company D, 302d Engineers, 77th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Chevieres, France, 13 October 1918. Sergeant Thomas accompanied an officer on a reconnaissance, searching for possible locations for crossing the Aire River. They crossed open ground subject to shell fire and under direct observation of the enemy. On reaching the river they were exposed to machine-gun and snipers’ fire. Both he and the officer failed to return, and their bodies were afterwards discovered in the Aire River, where they had fallen later, being killed or wounded by enemy fire.