The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Sergeant Richard William O’Neill (ASN: 89741), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism on 30 July 1918, while serving with Company D, 165th Infantry, 42d Division, in action at Ourcq River, France. In advance of an assaulting line, Sergeant O’Neill attacked a detachment of about 25 of the enemy. In the ensuing hand-to-hand encounter he sustained pistol wounds, but heroically continued in the advance, during which he received additional wounds; but, with great physical effort, he remained in active command of his detachment. Being again wounded, he was forced by weakness and loss of blood to be evacuated, but insisted upon being taken first to the battalion commander in order to transmit to him valuable information relative to enemy positions and the disposition of our men.