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 Joseph Goodson (ASN: 35152649), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with Company A, 14th Tank Battalion, 9th Armored Division, in action against enemy forces on 7 March 1945, in Germany. Upon reaching the Ludendorf railroad bridge across the Rhine River, Sergeant Goodman immediately placed his tank in a commanding position and directed effective fire upon hostile gun emplacements on the opposite bank, covering the crossing of friendly forces. That night, despite extreme darkness and the fact that the strength of the bridge was unknown, Sergeant Goodson dismounted, and in the face of heavy fire from 20-mm. and machine guns, personally led his tank across the span. By his cool, deliberate courage, Sergeant Goodson successfully led the first American tank across the Rhine River, paving the way for the exploitation of the bridgehead.