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 Private William E. Hall (ASN: 18046334), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with the 7th Engineer Combat Battalion, 5th Infantry Division, in action against enemy forces in France, on 8 September 1944. On that date, Private Hall served with a detail ferrying infantrymen in an assault crossing of the Moselle River near Dornot, France. His boat, which he manned by himself after assigned crew members had been wounded, was the first to reach the far shore under intense fire directed against the crossing site. During a subsequent crossing a direct mortar burst caused many casualties among the passengers, but this brave soldier, headless of his own safety, stood in the boat, guided it to the near shore and evacuated the casualties before it sank. He immediately procured another boat which was also hit and sunk, forcing him to swim to shore through the freezing water. He obtained a third boat and continued his hazardous crossings throughout the night and the following day, under intensified enemy fire, until he was killed by artillery fire. Private Hall’s conspicuous courage and heroic determination exemplify the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflect great credit upon himself, the 5th Infantry Division, and the United States Army.