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 Willie L. Woodard (ASN: 1307341), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company C, 117th Infantry Regiment, 30th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Geneve and Ponchaux, France, 8 October 1918. Early on the morning of 8 October Private Woodard was painfully wounded by severe machine-gun fire, which also riddled his gas mask. Unmindful of his suffering and despite the fact that he had no protection from gas, he continued to press on with his company until he fell exhausted and was evacuated.