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 Corporal William E. Woodard (ASN: 2854681), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company M, 358th Infantry Regiment, 90th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Vilcey, France, 12 September 1918. Although wounded in the back by machine-gun fire early in the attack, Corporal Woodard refused to stop even for the application of first-aid dressing. He continued to command his squad regardless of the pain and with utter disregard of personal danger, until the objective was reached.