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 First Lieutenant (Air Service) William Henry Taylor, Jr., United States Army Air Service, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 95th Aero Squadron, 1st Pursuit Group, U.S. Army Air Service, A.E.F., near Pont-a-Mousson, France, 28 May 1918. Accompanied by Lieutenant Hambleton, Lieutenant Taylor answered an alert to Lironville and encountered five enemy planes in the vicinity of St. Mihiel. As they approached, the enemy turned away. Lieutenant Taylor and Lieutenant Hambleton followed and at Pont-a-Mousson again came up with them, at 2,500 meters. Lieutenant Hambleton attacked the lowest one, firing 20 rounds and forcing it from the formation, while Lieutenant Taylor remained above to protect him and to keep off the other enemy planes. An enemy bullet having shot the cross-section wires of Lieutenant Hambleton’s plane away, the splinters from same cutting his cheek and right shoulder, he turned from combat to ascertain damage to his plane. As the enemy plan was falling Lieutenant Taylor opened fire and immediately brought the German down.