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 Carroll Benjamin West (ASN: 573878), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company B, 12th Machine-Gun Battalion, 4th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near the Bois-des-Ogons, France, 30 September 1918, and 2 October 1918. Sergeant West displayed exceptional courage and leadership in leading the section forward and maintaining fire on the enemy from an advanced position in the wood, successfully covering the withdrawal of the infantry to a more secure position. This gallant soldier was killed two days later while he was successfully directing his section in breaking up an enemy counter-attack.