Chapter I: Have a Rendezvous with Death (5)

_Allworth, Edward S., Captain_, 60th Infantry, 5th Division, Crawford, Wash.—Cléry-le-Petit, France, Nov. 5, 1918. While his company was crossing the Meuse River and Canal at a bridgehead opposite Cléry-le-Petit, the bridge over the canal was destroyed by shell fire and Captain Allworth’s command became separated, part of it being on the east bank of the canal and the remainder on the west bank. Seeing his advance units making slow headway up the steep slope ahead, this officer mounted the canal bank and called for his men to follow. Plunging in, he swam across the canal under fire from the enemy, followed by his men. Inspiring his men by his example of gallantry, he led them up the slope, joining his hard-pressed platoons in front. By his personal leadership he forced the enemy back for more than a kilometer, overcoming machine-gun nests and capturing a hundred prisoners, whose number exceeded that of the men in his command. The exceptional courage and leadership displayed by Captain Allworth made possible the reëstablishment of a bridgehead over the canal and the successful advance of other troops.

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_Woodfill, Samuel, First Lieutenant_, 60th Infantry, 5th Division, Fort Thomas, Ky.—Cunel, France, Oct. 12, 1918. While he was leading his company against the enemy his line came under heavy machine-gun fire, which threatened to hold up the advance. Followed by two soldiers at 25 yards, this officer went out ahead of his first line toward a machine-gun nest and worked his way around its flank, leaving the two soldiers in front. When he got within 10 yards of the gun it ceased firing, and four of the enemy appeared, three of whom were shot by Lieutenant Woodfill. The fourth, an officer, rushed at Lieutenant Woodfill, who attempted to club the officer with his rifle. After a hand-to-hand struggle, Lieutenant Woodfill killed the officer with his pistol. His company thereupon continued to advance until shortly afterward another machine-gun nest was encountered. Calling his men to follow, Lieutenant Woodfill rushed ahead of his line in the face of heavy fire from the nest; and when several of the enemy appeared above the nest he shot them, capturing three other members of the crew and silencing the gun. A few minutes later this officer for the third time demonstrated conspicuous daring by charging another machine-gun position, killing five men in one machine-gun pit with his rifle. He then drew his revolver and started to jump into the pit, when two other gunners only a few yards away turned their gun on him. Failing to kill them with his revolver, he grabbed a pick lying near by and killed both of them. Inspired by the exceptional courage displayed by this officer, his men pressed on to their objective under severe shell and machine-gun fire.

26TH DIVISION

_Dilboy, George, Private, first class_, Co. H, 103rd Infantry, 26th Division, Boston, Mass.—Belleau, France, July 18, 1918. After his platoon had gained its objective along a railroad embankment, Private Dilboy, accompanying his platoon leader to reconnoiter the ground beyond, was suddenly fired upon by an enemy machine gun from 100 yards. From a standing position on the railroad track, fully exposed to view, he opened fire at once, but, failing to silence the gun, rushed forward with his bayonet fixed through a wheat field toward the gun emplacement, falling within twenty-five yards of the gun with his right leg nearly severed above the knee and with several bullet holes in his body. With undaunted courage he continued to fire into the emplacement from a prone position, killing two of the enemy and dispersing the rest of the crew.

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_Perkins, Michael J., Private, first class_, Company D, 101st Infantry, 26th Division, Boston, Mass.—Belieu Bois, France, Oct. 27, 1918. He, voluntarily and alone, crawled to a German “pillbox” machine-gun emplacement, from which grenades were being thrown at his platoon. Awaiting his opportunity, when the door was again opened and another grenade thrown, he threw a bomb inside, bursting the door open; and then, drawing his trench knife, rushed into the emplacement. In a hand-to-hand struggle he killed or wounded several of the occupants and captured about twenty-five prisoners, at the same time silencing seven machine guns.

27TH DIVISION

_Eggers, Alan Louis, Sergeant_, M. G. Company, 107th Infantry, 27th Division, Summit, N. J.—Le Catelet, France, Sept. 29, 1918. Becoming separated from their platoon by a smoke barrage, Sergeant Eggers, Sergeant John C. Latham, and Corporal Thomas E. O’Shea took cover in a shell hole well within the enemy’s lines. Upon hearing a call for help from an American tank which had become disabled 30 yards from them, the three soldiers left their shelter and started toward the tank under heavy fire from German machine guns and trench mortars. In crossing the fire-swept area Corporal O’Shea was mortally wounded; but his companions, undeterred, proceeded to the tank, rescued a wounded officer, and assisted two wounded soldiers to cover in a sap of a nearby trench. Sergeant Eggers and Sergeant Latham then returned to the tank in the face of the violent fire, dismounted a Hotchkiss gun, and took it back to where the wounded men were, keeping off the enemy all day by effective use of the gun, and later bringing it, with the wounded men, back to our lines under cover of darkness.

Two Officers of the United States Army Aviation Section, Lieutenant Morrow and Lieutenant Holliday, making a flight in a Burgess Tractor.]

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_Gaffney, Frank, Private, first class_, 108th Infantry, 27th Division, Lockport, N. Y.—Ronssoy, France, Sept. 29, 1918. Private Gaffney, an automatic rifleman, pushed forward alone with his gun, after all the other members of his squad had been killed, discovered several Germans placing a heavy machine gun in position. He killed the crew, captured the gun, bombed several dugouts, and, after killing four more of the enemy with his pistol, held the position until reinforcement came up, when eighty prisoners were captured.

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_Latham, John Cridland, Sergeant_, M. G. Co., 107th Infantry, 27th Division, Westmoreland, England.—Le Catelet, France, Sept. 29, 1918. Becoming separated from their platoon by a smoke barrage, Sergeant Latham, Sergeant Alan L. Eggers, and Corporal Thomas E. O’Shea took cover in a shell hole well within the enemy’s lines. Upon hearing a call for help from an American tank, which had become disabled thirty yards from them, the three soldiers left their shelter and started toward the tank under heavy fire from German machine guns and trench mortars. In crossing the fire-swept area Corporal O’Shea was mortally wounded, but his companions, undeterred, proceeded to the tank, rescued a wounded officer, and assisted two wounded soldiers to cover in the sap of a nearby trench. Sergeant Latham and Sergeant Eggers then returned to the tank, in the face of the violent fire, dismounted a Hotchkiss gun, and took it back to where the wounded men were, keeping off the enemy all day by effective use of the gun and later bringing it, with the wounded men, back to our lines under cover of darkness.

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_Luke, Frank, Jr., Lieutenant_, 27th Aero Squadron, Phoenix, Ariz.—Murvaux, France, Sept. 29, 1918. After having previously destroyed a number of enemy aircraft within seventeen days, he voluntarily started on a patrol after German observation balloons. Though pursued by eight German planes, which were protecting the enemy balloon line, he unhesitatingly attacked and shot down in flames three German balloons, being himself under heavy fire from ground batteries and the hostile planes. Severely wounded, he descended to within fifty meters of the ground; and flying at this low altitude near the town of Murvaux, opened fire upon enemy troops, killing six and wounding as many more. Forced to make a landing and surrounded on all sides by the enemy, who called upon him to surrender, he drew his automatic pistol and defended himself gallantly until he fell dead from a wound in the chest.

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_O’Shea, Thomas E., Corporal_, M. G. Co., 107th Infantry, 27th Division, Summit, N. J.—Le Catelet, France, Sept. 29, 1918. Becoming separated from their platoon by a smoke barrage. Corporal O’Shea, with two other soldiers, took cover in a shell hole well within the enemy’s lines. Upon hearing a call for help from an American tank, which had become disabled thirty yards from them, the three soldiers left their shelter and started toward the tank under heavy fire from German machine guns and trench mortars. In crossing the fire-swept area Corporal O’Shea was mortally wounded and died of his wounds shortly afterward.

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_Waalker, Reider, Sergeant_, Co. A, 105th Infantry, 27th Division, Noretrand, Norway.—Ronssoy, France, Sept. 27, 1918. In the face of heavy artillery and machine-gun fire, he crawled forward in a burning British tank in which some of the crew were imprisoned, and succeeded in rescuing two men. Although the tank was then burning fiercely and contained ammunition which was likely to explode at any time, this soldier immediately returned to the tank, and, entering it, made a search for the other occupants, remaining until he satisfied himself that there were no more living men in the tank.

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_Turner, William S., First Lieutenant_, 105th Infantry, 27th Division, Dorchester, Mass.—Ronssoy, France, Sept. 27th, 1918. He led a small group of men to the attack, under terrific artillery and machine-gun fire, after they had become separated from the rest of the company in the darkness. Single-handed he rushed an enemy machine gun which had suddenly opened fire on his group and killed the crew with his pistol. He then pressed forward to another machine-gun post, 25 yards away, and had killed one gunner himself by the time the remainder of his detachment arrived and put the gun out of action. With the utmost bravery he continued to lead his men over three lines of hostile trenches, cleaning up each one as they advanced, regardless of the fact that he had been wounded three times, and killed several of the enemy in hand-to-hand encounters. After his pistol ammunition was exhausted, this gallant officer seized the rifle of a dead soldier, bayoneted several members of a machine-gun crew, and shot the others. Upon reaching the fourth-line trench, which was his objective, Lieutenant Turner captured it with the nine men remaining in his group, and resisted a hostile counter-attack until he was finally surrounded and killed.

28TH DIVISION

_Mestrovitch, James I, Sergeant_, Co. C, 111th Infantry, 28th Division, Fresno, Cal.—Fismette, France, Aug. 10, 1918. Seeing his company commander lying wounded thirty yards in front of the line after his company had withdrawn to a sheltered position behind a stone wall, Sergeant Mestrovitch voluntarily left cover and crawled through heavy machine-gun and shell-fire to where the officer lay. He took the officer upon his back and crawled back to a place of safety, where he administered first-aid treatment, his exceptional heroism saving the officer’s life.

29TH DIVISION

An American Signal Battalion outpost “listening in” on a suspicious wire somewhere in France. Complete telephone units including women operators went over with the American troops.]

_Costin, Henry G., Private_, Co. H, 115th Infantry, 29th Division, Cape Charles, Va.—Bois de Consenvoye, France, Oct. 8, 1918. When the advance of his platoon had been held up by machine-gun fire and a request was made for an automatic-rifle team to charge the nest, Private Costin was the first to volunteer. Advancing with his team under terrific fire of enemy artillery, machine guns, and trench mortars, he continued after all his comrades had become casualties, and he himself had been seriously wounded. He operated his rifle until he collapsed. His act resulted in the capture of about 100 prisoners and several machine guns. He succumbed from the effects of his wounds shortly after the accomplishment of his heroic deed.

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_Gregory, Earl D., Sergeant_, H. Q. Co., 116th Infantry, 29th Division, Chase City, Va.—Boise de Consenvoye, north of Verdun, France, Oct. 8, 1918. With the remark, “I will get them,” Sergeant Gregory seized a rifle and a trench-mortar shell which he used as a hand grenade, left his detachment of the trench-mortar platoon, and, advancing ahead of the infantry, captured a machine gun and three of the enemy. Advancing still further from the machine-gun nest, he captured a 7.5-centimeter mountain howitzer, and, entering a dugout in the immediate vicinity, single-handed captured nineteen of the enemy.

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_Regan, Patrick, Second Lieutenant_, 115th Infantry, 29th Division, Los Angeles, Cal.—Bois de Consenvoye, France, Oct. 8, 1918. While leading his platoon against a strong enemy machine-gun nest which had held up the advance of two companies, Lieut. Regan divided his men into three groups, sending one group to either flank, and he himself attacking with an automatic-rifle team from the front. Two of the team were killed outright, while Lieut. Regan and the third man were seriously wounded, the latter unable to advance. Although severely wounded, Lieut. Regan dashed with empty pistol into the machine-gun nest, capturing thirty Austrian gunners and four machine guns. This gallant deed permitted the companies to advance, avoiding a terrific enemy fire. Despite his wounds, he continued to lead his platoon forward until ordered to the rear by his commanding officer.

30TH DIVISION

_Adkinson, Joseph B., Sergeant_, Co. C, 119th Infantry, 30th Division, Atoka, Tenn.—Bellicourt, France, Sept. 29, 1918. When murderous machine-gun fire at a range of fifty yards had made it impossible for his platoon to advance, and had caused the platoon to take cover, Sergeant Adkinson alone, with the greatest intrepidity, rushed across the fifty yards of open ground directly into the face of the hostile machine gun, kicked the gun from the parapet into the enemy trench, and at the point of the bayonet captured the three men manning the gun. The gallantry and quick decision of this soldier enabled the platoon to resume its advance.

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_Blackwell, Robert L., Private_, 119th Infantry, 30th Division, Hurdles Mills, N. C.—Saint Souplet, France, Oct. 11, 1918. When his platoon was almost surrounded by the enemy and his platoon commander asked for volunteers to carry a message calling for reinforcements, Private Blackwell volunteered for this mission, well knowing the extreme danger connected with it. In attempting to get through the heavy shell and machine-gun fire this gallant soldier was killed.

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_Dozier, James C., First Lieutenant_, Co. G, 118th Infantry, 30th Division, Rock Hill, S. C.—Montbrehain, France, Oct. 8, 1918. In command of two platoons, Lieutenant Dozier was painfully wounded in the shoulder early in the attack, but he continued to lead his men, displaying the highest bravery and skill. When his command was held up by heavy machine-gun fire he disposed his men in the best cover available, and with a soldier continued forward to attack a machine-gun nest. Creeping up to the position in the face of intense fire, he killed the entire crew with hand grenades and his pistol; and a little later captured a number of Germans who had taken refuge in a dugout nearby.

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_Foster, Gary Evans, Sergeant_, Co. F, 118th Infantry, 30th Division, Inman, S. C.—Montbrehain, France, Oct. 8, 1918. When his company was held up by violent machine-gun fire from a sunken road Sergeant Foster, with an officer, went forward to attack the hostile machine-gun nests. The officer was wounded, but Sergeant Foster continued on alone in the face of heavy fire and by effective use of hand grenades and his pistol killed several of the enemy and captured eighteen.

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_Hall, Thomas Lee, Sergeant_, Co. G, 118th Infantry, 30th Division, Fort Hill, S. C.—Montbrehain, France, Oct. 8, 1918. Having overcome two machine-gun nests under his skillful leadership, Sergeant Hall’s platoon was stopped 800 yards from its final objective by machine-gun fire of particular intensity. Ordering his men to take cover in a sunken road, he advanced alone on the enemy machine-gun post and killed five members of the crew with his bayonet and thereby made possible the further advance of the line. While attacking another machine-gun nest later in the day this gallant soldier was mortally wounded.

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_Heriot, James D., Corporal_, Co. I, 118th Infantry, 30th Division, Providence, S. C.—Vaux-Andigny, France, Oct. 12, 1918. Corporal Heriot, with four other soldiers, organized a combat group and attacked an enemy machine-gun nest which had been inflicting heavy casualties on his company. In the advance two of his men were killed, and because of the heavy fire from all sides the remaining two sought shelter. Unmindful of the hazard attached to his mission, Corporal Heriot, with fixed bayonet, alone charged the machine gun, making his way through the fire for a distance of thirty yards and forcing the enemy to surrender. During his exploit he received several wounds in the arm, and later in the same day, while charging another nest, he was killed.

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_Hilton, Richmond H., Sergeant_, Co. H, 118th Infantry, 30th Division, Westville, S. C.—Brancourt, France, Oct. 11, 1918. While Sergeant Hilton’s company was advancing through the village of Brancourt it was held up by intense enfilading fire from a machine gun. Discovering that this fire came from a machine-gun nest among shell holes at the edge of the town, Sergeant Hilton, accompanied by a few other soldiers but well in advance of them, pressed on toward this position, firing with his rifle until his ammunition was exhausted, and then with his pistol killing six of the enemy and capturing ten. In the course of this daring exploit he received a wound from a bursting shell, which resulted in the loss of his arm.

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_Karnes, James E., Sergeant_, Co. D, 117th Infantry, 30th Division, Knoxville, Tenn.—Estrées, France, Oct. 8, 1918. During an advance his company was held up by a machine gun which was enfilading the line. Accompanied by another soldier, he advanced against this position and succeeded in reducing the nest by killing three and capturing seven of the enemy and their guns.

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_Lemert, Milo, First Sergeant_, Co. H, 119th Infantry, 30th Division, Grossville, Tenn.—Bellicourt, France, Sept. 29, 1918. Seeing that the left flank of his company was held up, he located the enemy machine-gun emplacement which had been causing heavy casualties. In the face of heavy fire he rushed it single-handed, killing the entire crew with grenades. Continuing along the enemy trench in advance of the company, he reached another emplacement which he also charged, silencing the gun with grenades. A third machine-gun emplacement opened upon him from the left, and, with similar skill and bravery, he destroyed this also. Later, in company with another sergeant, he attacked a fourth machine-gun nest, being killed as he reached the parapet of the emplacement. His courageous action in destroying in turn four enemy machine-gun nests prevented many casualties among his company and very materially aided in achieving the objective.

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_Talley, Edward R., Sergeant_, Co. L, 117th Infantry, 30th Division, Russellville, Tenn.—Ponchaux, France, Oct. 7, 1918. Undeterred by seeing several comrades killed in attempting to put a hostile machine-gun nest out of action, Sergeant Talley attacked the position single-handed. Armed only with a rifle, he rushed the nest in the face of intense enemy fire, killed or wounded at least six of the crew, and silenced the gun. When the enemy attempted to bring forward another gun and ammunition, he drove them back by effective fire from his rifle.

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_Villepigue, John C., Corporal_, Co. M, 118th Infantry, 30th Division, Camden, S. C.—Vaux-Andigny, France, Oct. 15, 1918. Having been sent out with two other soldiers to scout through the village of Vaux-Andigny, he met with strong resistance from enemy machine-gun fire, which killed one of his men and wounded the other. Continuing forward without aid, 500 yards in advance of his platoon and in the face of enemy machine-gun and artillery fire, he encountered four of the enemy in a dugout, whom he attacked and killed with a hand grenade. Crawling forward to a point 150 yards in advance of his first encounter, he rushed a machine-gun nest, killing four and capturing six of the enemy and taking two light machine guns. After being joined by his platoon he was severely wounded in the arm.

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_Ward, Calvin, Private_, Co. D, 117th Infantry, 30th Division, Morristown, Tenn.—Estrées, France, Oct. 8, 1918. During an advance Private Ward’s company was held up by a machine gun, which was enfilading the line. Accompanied by a non-commissioned officer, he advanced against this post and succeeded in reducing the nest by killing three and capturing seven of the enemy and their guns.

31ST DIVISION

_Slack, Clayton K., Private_, Co. E, 124th Infantry, 31st Division, Lampson, Wis.—Consenvoye, France, Oct. 8, 1918. Observing German soldiers under cover fifty yards away on the left flank, Private Slack, upon his own initiative, rushed them with his rifle, and, single-handed, captured ten prisoners and two heavy-type machine guns, thus saving his company and neighboring organizations from heavy casualties.

33RD DIVISION

_Allex, Jake, Corporal_, Co. H, 131st Infantry, 33rd Division, Chicago.—At Chipilly Ridge, France, Aug. 9, 1918. At a critical point in the action, when all the officers with his platoon had become casualties, Corporal Allex took command of the platoon and led it forward until the advance was stopped by fire from a machine-gun nest. He then advanced alone for about thirty yards in the face of intense fire and attacked the nest. With his bayonet he killed five of the enemy, and when it was broken used the butt end of his rifle, capturing fifteen prisoners.

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_Anderson, Johannes S., Sergeant_, Co. B, 132d Infantry, 33rd Division, Chicago, Ill.—Consenvoye, France, Oct. 8, 1918. While his company was being held up by intense artillery and machine-gun fire, Sergeant Anderson, without aid, voluntarily left the company and worked his way to the rear of the nest that was offering the most stubborn resistance. His advance was made through an open area and under constant hostile fire; but the mission was successfully accomplished, and he not only silenced the gun and captured it, but also brought back with him twenty-three prisoners.

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_Gumpertz, Sydney G., First Sergeant_, Co. E, 132nd Infantry, 33rd Division, New York City.—Bois de Forges, France, Sept. 26, 1918. When the advancing line was held up by machine-gun fire, Sergeant Gumpertz left the platoon of which he was in command, and started with two other soldiers through a heavy barrage toward the machine-gun nest. His two companions soon became casualties from bursting shell, but Sergeant Gumpertz continued on alone in the face of direct fire from the machine gun, jumped into the nest and silenced the gun, capturing nine of the crew.

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_Hill, Ralyn, Corporal_, Co. H, 129th Infantry, 33rd Division, Oregon, Ill.—Dannevoux, France, Oct. 7, 1918. Seeing a French aeroplane fall out of control on the enemy side of the Meuse River with its pilot injured, Corporal Hill voluntarily dashed across the footbridge to the side of the wounded man, and, taking him on his back, started back to his lines. During the entire exploit he was subjected to murderous fire of enemy machine guns and artillery, but he successfully accomplished his mission and brought his man to a place of safety, a distance of several hundred yards.

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_Loman, Berger, Private_, Co. H, 132nd Infantry, 33rd Division, Chicago.—Consenvoye, France, Oct. 9, 1918. When his company had reached a point within 100 yards of its objective, to which it was advancing under terrific machine-gun fire, Private Loman, voluntarily and unaided, made his way forward, after all others had taken shelter from the direct fire of an enemy machine gun. He crawled to a flank position of the gun, and, after killing or capturing the entire crew, turned the machine gun on the retreating enemy.

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_Mallon, George H., Captain_, 132nd Infantry, 33rd Division, Kansas City, Mo.—Bois de Forges, France, Sept. 26, 1918. Becoming separated from the balance of his company because of a fog, Captain Mallon, with nine soldiers, pushed forward and attacked nine active hostile machine guns, capturing all of them without the loss of a man. Continuing on through the woods, he led his men in attacking a battery of four 155-millimeter howitzers, which were in action, rushing the position and capturing the battery and its crew. In this encounter Captain Mallon personally attacked one of the enemy with his fists. Later, when the party came upon two more machine guns, this officer sent men to the flanks while he rushed forward directly in the face of the fire and silenced the guns, being the first one of the party to reach the nest. The exceptional gallantry and determination displayed by Captain Mallon resulted in the capture of 100 prisoners, eleven machine guns, four 155-millimeter howitzers, and one anti-aircraft gun.

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_Pope, Thomas A., Corporal_, Co. E, 131st Infantry, 33rd Division, Chicago.—Hamel, France, July 4, 1918. His company was advancing behind the tanks when it was halted by hostile machine-gun fire. Going forward alone, he rushed a machine-gun nest, killed several of the crew with his bayonet, and, standing astride of his gun, held off the others until reinforcements arrived and captured them.

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_Sandlin, Willie, Private_, Co. A, 132nd Infantry, 33rd Division, Hayden, Ky.—Bois de Forges, France, Sept. 26, 1918. He showed conspicuous gallantry in action by advancing alone directly on a machine-gun nest which was holding up the line with its fire. He killed the crew with a grenade and enabled the line to advance. Later in the day he attacked alone and put out of action two other machine-gun nests, setting a splendid example of bravery and coolness to his comrades.

35TH DIVISION

_Skinker, Alexander R., Captain_, 138th Infantry, 35th Division, St. Louis, Mo.—Cheppy, France, Sept. 26, 1918. Unwilling to sacrifice his men when his company was held up by terrific machine-gun fire from iron “pill boxes” in the Hindenburg line, Captain Skinker personally led an automatic rifleman and a carrier in an attack on the machine guns. The carrier was killed instantly, but Captain Skinker seized the ammunition and continued through an opening in the barbed wire, feeding the automatic rifle until he, too, was killed.

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_Wold, Nels, Private_, Co. I, 138th Infantry, 35th Division, McIntosh, Minn.—Cheppy, France, Sept. 26, 1918. He rendered most gallant service in aiding the advance of his company, which had been held up by machine-gun nests, advancing with one other soldier and silencing the guns, bringing with him upon his return eleven prisoners. Later the same day he jumped from a trench and rescued a comrade who was about to be shot by a German officer, killing the officer during the exploit. His actions were entirely voluntary, and it was while attempting to rush a fifth machine-gun nest that he was killed. The advance of his company was mainly due to his great courage and devotion to duty.

36TH DIVISION

_Sampler, Samuel H., Sergeant_, Co. M, 142nd Infantry, 36th Division, Mangum, Okla.—St. Etienne, France, Oct. 8, 1918. His company having suffered severe casualties during an advance under machine-gun fire, was finally stopped. Sergeant Sampler, then a Corporal, detected the position of the enemy machine guns on an elevation. Armed with German hand grenades, which he had picked up, he left the line and rushed forward in the face of heavy fire until he was near the hostile nest, where he grenaded the position. His third grenade landed among the enemy, killing two, silencing the machine guns and causing the surrender of twenty-eight Germans, whom he sent to the rear as prisoners. As a result of his act the company was immediately enabled to resume the advance.

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_Turner, Harold L., Corporal_, Co. F, 142nd Infantry, 36th Division, Seminole, Okla.—St. Etienne, France, Oct. 8, 1918. After his platoon had started the attack, Corporal Turner assisted in organizing a platoon consisting of the battalion scouts, runners, and a detachment of the Signal Corps. As second in command of this platoon, he fearlessly led them forward through heavy enemy fire, continually encouraging the men. Later he encountered deadly machine-gun fire which reduced the strength of his command to but four men, and these were obliged to take shelter. The enemy machine-gun emplacement, twenty-five yards distant, kept up a continual fire from four machine guns. After the fire had shifted momentarily, Corporal Turner rushed forward with fixed bayonet and charged the position alone, capturing the strong point, with a complement of fifty Germans and four machine guns. His remarkable display of courage and fearlessness was instrumental in destroying the strong point, the fire from which had blocked the advance of his company.

This picture shows our boys charging on snow-covered ground.]

42ND DIVISION

_Manning, Sidney E., Corporal_, Co. C, 167th Infantry, 42nd Division, Flomaton, Ala.—Breuvannes, France, July 28, 1918. When his platoon commander and platoon sergeant had both become casualties soon after the beginning of an assault on strongly fortified heights overlooking the Ourcq River, Corporal Manning took command of his platoon, which was near the center of the attacking line. Though himself severely wounded, he led forward the thirty-five men remaining in the platoon, and finally succeeded in gaining a foothold on enemy position, during which time he had received more wounds, and all but seven of his men had fallen. Directing the consolidation of the position, he held off a large body of the enemy only fifty yards away by fire from his automatic rifle. He declined to take cover until the line had been entirely consolidated with the line of the platoon on the flank, when he dragged himself to shelter, suffering from nine wounds in all parts of the body.

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_Neibaur, Thomas C., Private_, Co. M, 167th Infantry, 42nd Division, Sumner City, Idaho.—Landers, St. Georges, France, Oct. 16, 1918. On the afternoon of Oct. 16, 1918, when the Côte de Chatillon had just been gained after bitter fighting and the summit of that strong bulwark in the Kriemhilde Stellung was being organized, Private Neibaur was sent out on patrol with his automatic-rifle squad to enfilade enemy machine-gun nests. As he gained the ridge he set up his automatic rifle and was directly thereafter wounded in both legs by fire from a hostile machine gun on his flank. The advance wave of the enemy troops counter-attacking had about gained the ridge; and, although practically cut off and surrounded, the remainder of his detachment being killed or wounded, this gallant soldier kept his automatic rifle in operation to such effect that by his own efforts and by fire from the skirmish line of his company, at least 100 yards in his rear, the attack was checked. The enemy wave being halted and lying prone, four of the enemy attacked Private Neibaur at close quarters. These he killed. He then moved along among the enemy lying on the ground about him. In the midst of the fire from his own lines, and by coolness and gallantry, he captured eleven prisoners at the point of his pistol, and, although painfully wounded, brought them back to our lines. The counter-attack in full force was arrested, to a large extent, by the single efforts of this soldier, whose heroic exploits took place against the sky line in full view of his entire battalion.

77TH DIVISION

_Kaufman, Benjamin, First Sergeant_, Co. K, 308th Infantry, 77th Division, Brooklyn, N. Y.—Forest d’Argonne, France, Oct. 4, 1918. He took out a patrol for the purpose of attacking an enemy machine gun which had checked the advance of his company. Before reaching the gun he became separated from his patrol, and a machine-gun bullet shattered his right arm. Without hesitation he advanced on the gun alone, throwing grenades with his left hand and charging with an empty pistol, taking one prisoner and scattering the crew, bringing the gun and prisoner back to the first-aid station.

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_McMurtry, George G., Captain_, 308th Infantry, 77th Division, New York City.—Forest d’Argonne, France, Oct. 2-8, 1918. Captain McMurtry commanded a battalion which was cut off and surrounded by the enemy; and, although wounded in the knee by shrapnel on Oct. 4th and suffering great pain, he continued throughout the entire period to encourage his officers and men with a resistless optimism that contributed largely toward preventing panic and disorder among the troops who, without food, were cut off from communication with our lines. On Oct. 4th, during a heavy barrage, he personally directed and supervised the moving of the wounded to shelter before himself seeking shelter. On Oct. 6th, he was again wounded in the shoulder by a German grenade, but continued personally to organize and direct the defense against the German attack on the position until the attack was defeated. He continued to direct and command his troops, refusing relief, and after assistance arrived personally led his men out of the position before permitting himself to be taken to the hospital on Oct. 8th. During this period the successful defense of the position was due largely to his efforts.

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_Miles, L. Wardlaw, Captain_, 308th Infantry, 77th Division, Princeton, N. J.—Révillon, France, Sept. 14, 1918. Captain Miles volunteered to lead his company in a hazardous attack on a commanding trench position near the Aisne Canal, which other troops had previously attempted to take without success. His company immediately met with intense machine-gun fire, against which it had no artillery assistance, but Captain Miles preceded the first wave and assisted in cutting a passage through the enemy’s wire entanglements. In so doing he was wounded five times by machine-gun bullets, both legs and one arm being fractured, whereupon he ordered himself placed on a stretcher and had himself carried forward to the enemy trench in order that he might encourage and direct his company, which by this time had suffered numerous casualties. Under the inspiration of this officer’s indomitable spirit his men held the hostile position and consolidated the front line after an action lasting two hours, at the conclusion of which Captain Miles was carried to the aid station against his will.

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_Peck, Archie A., Private_, Co. A, 307th Infantry, 77th Division, Hornell, N. Y.—Forest d’Argonne, France, Oct. 6, 1918. While engaged with two other soldiers on patrol duty he and his comrades were subjected to the direct fire of an enemy machine gun, at which time both his companions were wounded. Returning to his company, he obtained another soldier to accompany him to assist in bringing in the wounded men. His assistant was killed in the exploit, but he continued on, twice returning, and safely bringing in both men, being under terrific machine-gun fire during the entire journey.

* * * * *

_Smith, Frederick E., Lieutenant Colonel_, 308th Infantry, 77th Division, Portland, Ore.—Binarville, France, Sept. 28, 1918. When communication from the forward regimental post of command to the battalion leading the advance had been interrupted temporarily by the infiltration of small parties of the enemy armed with machine guns, Lieut. Col. Smith personally led a party of two other officers and ten soldiers, and went forward to re-establish runner posts and carry ammunition to the front line. The guide became confused and the party strayed to the left flank beyond the outposts of supporting troops, suddenly coming under fire from a group of enemy machine guns only fifty yards away. Shouting to the other members of his party to take cover, this officer, in disregard of his own danger, drew his pistol and opened fire on the German gun crew. About this time he fell, severely wounded in the side; but, regaining his footing, he continued to fire on the enemy until most of the men in his party were out of danger. Refusing first-aid treatment, he then made his way in plain view of the enemy to a hand grenade dump and returned under continued heavy machine-gun fire for the purpose of making another attack on the enemy emplacements. As he was attempting to ascertain the exact location of the nearest nest, he again fell, mortally wounded.

* * * * *

_Whittlesey, Charles W., Lieutenant Colonel_, 308th Infantry, 77th Division, Pittsfield, Mass.—Binarville, in the Forest d’ Argonne, France, Oct. 2-7, 1918. Although cut off for five days from the remainder of his division, Major Whittlesey maintained his position which he had reached under orders received for an advance; and held his command, consisting originally of 463 officers and men of the 308th Infantry and of Company K of the 307th Infantry together, in the face of superior numbers of the enemy during the five days. Major Whittlesey and his command were thus cut off, and no rations or other supplies reached him, in spite of determined efforts which were made by his division. On the fourth day Major Whittlesey received from the enemy a written proposition to surrender, which he treated with contempt, although he was at that time out of rations and had suffered a loss of about 50 percent. in killed and wounded of his command and was surrounded by the enemy.

78TH DIVISION

_Sawelson, William, Sergeant_, Co. —, 312th Infantry, 78th Division, Harrison, N. J.—Grandpré, France, Oct. 26, 1918. Hearing a wounded man in a shell hole some distance away calling for water, Sergeant Sawelson, upon his own initiative, left shelter and crawled through heavy machine-gun fire to where the man lay, giving him what water he had in his canteen. He then went back to his own shell hole, obtained more water and was returning to the wounded man when he was killed by a machine-gun bullet.

82ND DIVISION

_Pike, Emory J., Lieutenant Colonel_, Division Machine Gun Officer, 82nd Division, Des Moines, Iowa.—Vandières, France, Sept. 15, 1918. Having gone forward to reconnoiter new machine-gun positions, Colonel Pike offered his assistance in reorganizing advance infantry units, which had become disorganized during a heavy artillery shelling. He succeeded in locating only about twenty men, but with these he advanced; and when later joined by several infantry platoons rendered inestimable service in establishing outposts, encouraging all by his cheeriness, in spite of the extreme danger of the situation. When a shell had wounded one of the men in the outpost, Colonel Pike immediately went to his aid and was severely wounded himself when another shell burst in the same place. While waiting to be brought to the rear, Colonel Pike continued in command, still retaining his jovial manner of encouragement, directing the reorganization until the position could be held. The entire operation was carried on under terrific bombardment; and the example of courage and devotion to duty, as set by Colonel Pike, established the highest standard of morale and confidence to all under his charge. The wounds he received were the cause of his death.

* * * * *

_York, Alvin C., Sergeant_, Co. G, 328th Infantry, 82nd Division, Pall Mall, Tenn.—Châtel-Chéhéry, France, Oct. 8, 1918. After his platoon had suffered heavy casualties and three other non-commissioned officers had become casualties, Corporal York assumed command. Fearlessly leading seven men, he charged, with great daring, a machine-gun nest which was pouring deadly and incessant fire upon his platoon. In this heroic feat the machine-gun nest was taken, together with four officers and 128 men and several guns.

89TH DIVISION

_Barger, Charles D., Private, first class_, Co. L, 354th Infantry, 89th Division, Stotts City, Mo.—Bois de Bantheville, France, Oct. 31, 1918. Learning that two daylight patrols had been caught out in No Man’s Land and were unable to return, Private Barger and another stretcher bearer, upon their own initiative, made two trips 500 yards beyond our lines, under constant machine-gun fire, and rescued two wounded officers.

* * * * *

_Barkeley, David B., Private_, Co. A, 356 Infantry, 89th Division, San Antonio, Texas.—Pouilly, France, Nov. 9, 1918. When information was desired as to the enemy’s position on the opposite side of the River Meuse, Private Barkeley, with another soldier, volunteered without hesitation and swam the river to reconnoiter the exact location. He succeeded in reaching the opposite bank, despite the evident determination of the enemy to prevent a crossing. Having obtained his information, he again entered the water for his return, but before his goal was reached he was seized with cramps and drowned.

* * * * *

_Chiles, Marcellus H., Captain_, 356th Infantry, 89th Division, Denver, Col.—Le Champy-Bas, France, Nov. 3, 1918. When his battalion, of which he had just taken command, was halted by machine-gun fire from the front and left flank he picked up the rifle of a dead soldier and, calling on his men to follow, led the advance across a stream, waist deep, in the face of the machine-gun fire. Upon reaching the opposite bank this gallant officer was seriously wounded in the abdomen by a sniper; but before permitting himself to be evacuated he made complete arrangements for turning over his command to the next senior officer; and under the inspiration of his fearless leadership his battalion reached its objective. Captain Chiles died shortly after reaching the hospital.

* * * * *

_Forrest, Arthur J., Sergeant_, Co. D, 354th Infantry, 89th Division, Hannibal, Mo.—Rémonville, France, Nov. 1, 1918. When the advance of his company was stopped by bursts of fire from a nest of six enemy machine guns, he worked his way single-handed without being discovered to a point within fifty yards of the machine-gun nest. Charging, single-handed, he drove out the enemy in disorder, thereby protecting the advance platoon from annihilating fire, and permitting the resumption of the advance of his company.

* * * * *

_Funk, Jesse N., Private, first class_, 354th Infantry, 89th Division, Calnan, Col.—Bois de Bantheville, France, Oct. 31, 1918. Learning that two daylight patrols had been caught out in No Man’s Land and were unable to return, Private Funk and another stretcher bearer, upon their own initiative, made two trips 500 yards beyond our lines, under constant machine-gun fire, and rescued two wounded officers.

* * * * *

_Furlong, Richard A., First Lieutenant_, 353rd Infantry, 89th Division, Detroit, Mich.—Bantheville, France, Nov. 1, 1918. Immediately after the opening of the attack in the Bois de Bantheville, when his company was held up by severe machine-gun fire from the front, which killed his company commander and several soldiers, Lieutenant Furlong moved out in advance of the line with great courage and coolness, crossing an open space several hundred yards wide. Taking up a position behind the line of machine guns, he closed in on them, one at a time, killing a number of the enemy with his rifle, putting four machine-gun nests out of action, and driving twenty German prisoners into our lines.

* * * * *

_Hatler, M. Waldo, Sergeant_, Co. B, 356th Infantry, 89th Division, Neosho, Mo.—Pouilly, France, Nov. 8, 1918. When volunteers were called for to secure information as to the enemy’s position on the opposite bank of the Meuse River, Sergeant Hatler was the first to offer his services for this dangerous mission. Swimming across the river, he succeeded in reaching the German lines after another soldier who had started with him had been seized with cramps and drowned in midstream. Alone he carefully and courageously reconnoitered the enemy’s positions, which were held in force, and again successfully swam the river, bringing back information of great value.

* * * * *

_Johnston, Harold I., Sergeant_, Co. A, 356th Infantry, 89th Division, Denver, Col.—Pouilly, France, Nov. 9, 1918. When information was desired as to the enemy’s position on the opposite side of the River Meuse, Sergeant Johnston, with another soldier, volunteered without hesitation and swam the river to reconnoiter the exact location of the enemy. He succeeded in reaching the opposite bank, despite the evident determination of the enemy to prevent a crossing. Having obtained his information, he again entered the water for his return. This was accomplished after a severe struggle, which so exhausted him that he had to be assisted from the water, after which he rendered his report of the exploit.

* * * * *

_Wickersham, J. Hunter, Second Lieutenant_, 353rd Infantry, 89th Division, Denver, Col.—Limey, France, Sept. 12, 1918. Advancing with his platoon during the St. Mihiel offensive, he was severely wounded in four places by the bursting of a high-explosive shell. Before receiving any aid for himself he dressed the wounds of his orderly who was wounded at the same time. Then, although weakened by the loss of blood, he ordered and accompanied the further advance of his platoon. His right hand and arm being disabled by wounds, he continued to fire his revolver with his left hand, until, exhausted by loss of blood, he fell and died from his wounds before aid could be administered.

91ST DIVISION

_Katz, Philip C., Sergeant_, Co. C, 363rd Infantry, 91st Division, San Francisco, Cal.—Eclis-fontaine, France, Sept. 26, 1918. After his company had withdrawn for a distance of 200 yards on a line with the units on its flanks, Sergeant Katz learned that one of his comrades had been left wounded in an exposed position at the point from which the withdrawal had taken place. Voluntarily crossing an area swept by heavy machine-gun fire, he advanced to where the wounded soldier lay and carried him to a place of safety.

* * * * *

_Miller, Oscar F., Major_, 361st Infantry, 91st Division, Los Angeles, Cal.—Gesnes, France, Sept. 28, 1918. After two days of intense physical and mental strain, during which Major Miller had led his battalion in the front line of the advance through the forest of Argonne, the enemy was met in a prepared position south of Gesnes. Though almost exhausted, he energetically reorganized his battalion and ordered an attack. Upon reaching open ground, the advancing line began to waver in the face of machine-gun fire from the front and flanks, and direct artillery fire. Personally leading his command group forward between his front line companies, Major Miller inspired his men by his personal courage; and they again pressed on toward the hostile position. As this officer led the renewed attack he was shot in the right leg, but he nevertheless staggered forward at the head of his command. Soon afterward he was again shot in the right arm, but he continued the charge, personally cheering his troops on through the heavy machine-gun fire. Just before the objective was reached he received a wound in the abdomen which forced him to the ground, but he continued to urge his men on, telling them to push on to the next ridge and leave him where he lay. He died from his wounds a few days later.

* * * * *

_Seibert, Lloyd M., Sergeant_, Co. F., 364th Infantry, 91st Division, Salinas, Cal.—Epinonville, France, Sept. 26, 1918. Suffering from illness, Sergeant Seibert remained with his platoon and led his men with the highest courage and leadership under heavy shell and machine-gun fire. With two other soldiers he charged a machine-gun emplacement in advance of their company, he himself killing one of the enemy with a shotgun and captured two others. In this encounter he was wounded, but he nevertheless continued in action; and when a withdrawal was ordered he returned with the last unit, assisting a wounded comrade. Later in the evening he volunteered and carried in wounded until he fainted from exhaustion.

* * * * *

_West, Chester H., First Sergeant_, Co. D, 363rd Infantry, 91st Division, Idaho, Falls, Idaho.—Bois de Cheppy, France, Sept. 26, 1918. While making his way through a thick fog with his automatic-rifle section, his advance was halted by direct and unusual machine-gun fire from two guns. Without aid he at once dashed through the fire, and attacking the nest killed two of the gunners, one of whom was an officer. This prompt and decisive hand-to-hand encounter on his part enabled his company to advance further without the loss of a man.

93RD DIVISION

_Robb, George S., First Lieutenant_, 369th Infantry, 93rd Division, Saline, Kan.—Séchault, France, Sept 29-30, 1918. While leading his platoon in the assault on Séchault, Lieutenant Robb was severely wounded by machine-gun fire; but rather than go to the rear for proper treatment he remained with his platoon until ordered to the dressing station by his commanding officer. Returning within forty-five minutes, he remained on duty throughout the entire night, inspecting his lines and establishing outposts. Early the next morning he was again wounded, once again displaying his remarkable devotion to duty by remaining in command of his platoon. Later the same day a bursting shell added two more wounds, the same shell killing his commanding officer and two officers of his company. He then assumed command of the company and organized its position in the trenches. Displaying wonderful courage and tenacity at the critical times, he was the only officer of his battalion who advanced beyond the town; and by clearing machine-gun and sniping posts, contributed largely to the aid of his battalion in holding their objective. His example of bravery and fortitude and his eagerness to continue with his mission despite severe wounds set before the enlisted men of his command a most wonderful standard of morale and self-sacrifice.

TANK CORPS

_Call, Donald M., Second Lieutenant_, Tank Corps, Larchmont, N. Y.—Varennes, France, Sept. 26, 1918. During an operation against enemy machine-gun nests west of Varennes, Lieutenant Call, then Corporal, was in a tank with an officer, when half of the turret was knocked off by a direct artillery hit. Choked by gas from the high-explosive shell, he left the tank and took cover in a shell hole thirty yards away. Seeing that the officer did not follow, and thinking that he might be alive, Corporal Call returned to the tank under intense machine-gun and shell fire and carried the officer over a mile under machine-gun and sniper fire to safety.

* * * * *

_Roberts, Garold W., Corporal_, Tank Corps, San Francisco, Cal.—Montrebeau Woods, France, Oct. 4, 1918. Corporal Roberts, a tank driver, was moving his tank into a clump of bushes to afford protection to another tank which had become disabled. The tank slid into a shell hole ten feet deep and filled with water, and was immediately submerged. Knowing that only one of the two men in the tank could escape, Corporal Roberts said to the gunner, “Well, only one of us can get out, and out you go.” Whereupon he pushed his companion through the back door of the tank and was himself drowned.

Transcriber’s Notes

pg 37 Changed: They let go their ammuntion belts
to: They let go their ammunition belts

pg 50 Changed: Colonel Montgomery commandered General O’Ryan’s
racing car
to: Colonel Montgomery commandeered General O’Ryan’s
racing car

pg 64 Changed: generally understod among us brothers
to: generally understood among us brothers

pg 75 Changed: The comandming officer of the 32nd
to: The commanding officer of the 32nd

pg 78 Changed: into the French capital were greeted with enthsuiasm
to: into the French capital were greeted with enthusiasm

pg 82 Changed: Had is done what had been intended
to: Had it done what had been intended

pg 106 Changed: a fierce bombardment from the enemy’s adtillery
to: a fierce bombardment from the enemy’s artillery

pg 127 Changed: I could not restrtain myself any longer
to: I could not restrain myself any longer

pg 277 Changed: picked up 156 offcers and men
to: picked up 156 officers and men

pg 309 Changed: Involntarily, without the smallest intention of
quitting
to: Involuntarily, without the smallest intention of
quitting

pg 345 Changed: (an offishoot of the National German-American
Alliance)
to: (an offshoot of the National German-American
Alliance)

pg 383 Changed: awaited the second shock we knew would some
to: awaited the second shock we knew would come

pg 390 Changed: further established liason with two French batteries
to: further established liaison with two French batteries