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 Corporal William H. Russell, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism while serving with Company M, 339th Infantry, 85th Division (Detachment in North Russia), in action near Bolshieozerke, Russia, 1 April 1919. Corporal Russell assumed command of a Russian machine-gun crew, in addition to his own, and held his position for ten hours against determined attacks of a greatly superior force. When the enemy fire was so severe as to cause the Russians to temporarily leave their gun, he himself took charge of the gun and continued the fire.