William Albert Worthen

Mechanic, U. S. Army

Distinguished Service Cross

GENERAL ORDERS:
War Department, General Orders No. 46 (1919)
CITATION:
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 Mechanic William A. Worthen, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company M, 9th Infantry Regiment, 2d Division, A.E.F., near Tuilerie Farm, France, 3 October 1918, and at Mouzon, France, 7 November 1918.
On October 3 Mechanic Worthen was assigned to duty as a runner after he had requested to go into action with his company instead of remaining in the rear. He showed exceptional bravery while carrying messages through heavy machine-gun and artillery fire, and on November 7 he maintained communication with battalion headquarters when the enemy were endeavoring to cut off his company by machine-gun and shell fire.

On 20 March 1919 awarded the French Croix de Guerre with silver star.