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 Sergeant William A. Clark (ASN: 37035020), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with Company M, 3d Battalion, 164th Infantry Regiment, 23d Infantry Division (Americal), in action against enemy forces at Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, on 25 October 1942. During the last hours of darkness, Corporal Clark and two companions crawled out from the line to retrieve two damaged and abandoned machine guns. Although the weapons lay within a few yards of the Japanese, Clark inched his way toward them. The other two men were killed, but Corporal Clark persisted, recovered the guns, and, while still under heavy fire, assembled a serviceable machine gun from their parts in time to help repulse a large enemy thrust. His extraordinary heroism and dedicated devotion to duty, without regard for his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Army.