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 Second Lieutenant (Infantry) Ray Earl Watson, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 317th Infantry Regiment, 80th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Nantillois, France, 5 October 1918. Although severely wounded, Lieutenant Watson continued to lead his platoon of the machine-gun company with great coolness and disregard of personal danger. When the attacking infantry dropped back in the face of heavy machine-gun fire, he held his position in front of them until they returned to the attack.