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 First Lieutenant (Corps of Engineers) William Leslie MacKenzie (ASN: 0-1102365), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with the 118th Engineer Combat Battalion, 43d Infantry Division, in action against enemy forces at New Georgia, Solomon Islands, on 16 July 1943. While returning to a bivouac area, First Lieutenant MacKenzie learned that a number of vehicles had been ambushed on the trail and were under enemy fire. He went forward on reconnaissance under heavy enemy fire and planned an attack. While leading the advance he received the wound which caused his death. When the small engineer detachment was forced to fall back he directed the withdrawal with such skill that there was only one casualty. The following morning he organized an directed the detachment in evacuating the wounded while he, himself, was borne to the rear in a stretcher, where he died four days later. First Lieutenant MacKenzie’s extraordinary heroism, personal bravery and zealous devotion to duty at the cost of his life, exemplify the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Army.