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 First Lieutenant (Infantry) William Thaddeus Dillon (ASN: 0-1301625), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with Company A, 1st Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division, in action against enemy forces at Normandy, France, on 6 June 1944. Upon discovering that his company commander had been seriously wounded during the invasion on D-Day, First Lieutenant Dillon immediately assumed command of the company and proceeded up and down the fire-swept beach to reorganize the scattered assault sections into a fighting unit. Under heavy enemy fire, he personally led a section through an intricate barbed wire fence and across and uncharted minefield and launched an attack on an enemy strongpoint. When his section became pinned down, First Lieutenant Dillon moved forward alone in the face of concentrated automatic weapons fire to assault the hostile emplacement. Firing his carbine and throwing hand grenades, he knocked out two machine guns, thereby permitting his men to advance. The courageous leadership and personal bravery displayed by First Lieutenant Dillon exemplifies the highest traditions of the Armed Forces.