Other Major Military Awards for Valor Among Harvard Alumni

The names of the 2nd highest US military decorations for valor have a different name and date of origination by service. For the US Army, this award is called the Distinguished Service Cross and was established by the US congress in 1918. The equivalent award for the Navy and US Marine Corps is the Navy Cross, which was first awarded in 1917 and formally approved by the US congress in 1931 (note: the Navy Cross  may also be awarded to deserving US Coast Guard personnel during a formal war when the USCG is operating as part of the USN). The Air Force Cross was established by the US congress in 1960 (note: previously deserving personnel in the US Army Aero Squadrons of the Signal Corps (WW I), US Army Air Corps (1920’s to 1947) or US Air Force (1947 to 1960)  were awarded the Distinguished Service Cross). These awards are made for extreme gallantry and risk of life in actual combat with an enemy force for heroism of such a high degree to above those required for all other US combat decorations but not meeting the requirement for the Medal of Honor.

The third highest award given to member of any branch of the US military is the Silver Star for extraordinary heroism in the face of an enemy of the US while engaged in military operations with an opposing enemy. This medal was established by congress in 1932 and was the official successor decoration to the Citation Star which congress had established in 1918. Air Force pilots and Naval aviators are often considered to merit the Silver Star when becoming an Ace (i.e. 5 of more confirmed kills of enemy aircraft).

The British equivalent of the US Distinguished Service Cross was the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) for senior officers and Lt. Commanders/ majors and below were awarded the Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) for lower ranks [note: In 1993, the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross (CGC) became the 2nd highest British award for valor and replaced the DSO as well as the DSC, the Distinguished Conduct Medal and Conspicuous Gallantry Medal]. The third highest British awards for valor in combat are the Military Cross (Army), Distinguished Service Cross (Royal Navy) and the Distinguished Flying Cross (RAF), which are all the equivalent of the Silver Star awarded by the US military.

The highest British award for valor is the Victoria Cross which is the equivalent of the Medal of Honor. However to the best of our knowledge, the Victoria Cross has never been awarded to a Harvard Alumnus. The Legion d’honneur was established by Napoleon and is the highest award in France for both military and civil service to France. A military based induction into the Order of the Legion d’honneur is somewhat equivalent to both the Victoria Cross (UK) and the Medal of Honor (US).

During World War I, at least 11,319 Harvard men from almost every class from 1887 to 1921 served our country in the military. Many of these men were sent overseas to France and four were awarded the Medal of Honor, which is detailed elsewhere. In addition, over 100 Harvard men were awarded the 2nd highest military medal for valor (i.e. the Distinguished Service Cross, Navy Cross and Air Force Cross or foreign comparable medals) as well as the 3rd highest valor award (i.e. the Silver Star).

At this point, the below preliminary list of Harvard alumni heroes is not intended to be exhaustive. The below list currently reflects all the names that have been discovered based on research to date base, which has primarily focused on World War I. If you know if anyone has been inadvertently left out, please contact Captain Paul E. Mawn USN (Ret.) at 1-978-443-9532 (i.e. particularly relative and classmates from World War II to the current World War on Islamic Fundamentalist Terrorism.

1. HARVARD  COLLEGE  by  CLASS
1887
Colonel Albert Thompson Perkins US Army (14th Engineers [Railway] attached to British Expeditionary Forces) – Distinguished Service Medal and  also awarded Order of St. Michael and St. George (British) He participated in the following engagements: Cambrai , Passchendaele Ridge, Marne-Aisne offensive, Somme offensive (1918), Saint-Mihiel and Meuse-Argonne offensives. His DSC citation notes. “For exceptionally meritorious and distinguished services. As deputy and later manager, of Light Railways, he undertook the task of organizing a light railway service for the American Expeditionary Forces. His long and complete railroad experience and accurate knowledge assured the success of these lines. By his foresight in promptly gathering from the United States a generous supply of railway material, he promptly brought the light railway service to a high degree of efficiency.” He returned to the US and was discharged from active duty in early 1919

1894
Captain Charles Norman Fiske US Navy Medical Corps [Harvard Medical School: 1900] (Force medical officer, Cruiser and Transport Force, US Atlantic Fleet). Navy Cross and  Distinguished Service Cross. He sailed for overseas in June 1917.  His Navy Cross citation reads: “For distinguished service in line of his profession as Force Medical Officer on the Staff of the Commander, Cruiser and Transport Force."  His DSC citation reads: "For exceptionally meritorious and conspicuous service as Force Medical Officer. His untiring energy, his foresight in Sanitary Inspection of the ships, and his close cooperation with the Army authorities contributed greatly to the successful outcome of our overseas operations." He returned to the US in late 1918 and was discharged from active duty in December 1920.

1896
Commander Asa Forrest Evens Billings US Navy  (Civil Engineering Corps - Attached to the US Naval Forces- London) – Navy Cross. He was also awarded the Legion d’Honneur. His Navy Cross citation reads: “For distinguished services in the line of his profession as Officer charged with the supervision of construction work on Naval Air Stations in Europe”. He returned to the US and was discharged from active duty in early 1919.

Lt. Commander John Allyn Gade US Navy (Naval Attaché) Navy Cross. He was also awarded the Legion d’Honneur. His Navy Cross citation reads: “For distinguished services in the line of his profession as Naval Attaché at Copenhagen, Denmark, where he developed sources of information which were most valuable to the Commander of Naval Forces operating in European waters and to the Naval Information Division of the British Admiralty”. He returned to the US and was discharged from active duty in July 1919.

Captain John Chamberlain Ward US Army (108th Infantry, 27th Division) – Distinguished Service Cross. He was also awarded the Military Cross (British). He was a chaplain and sailed for France in May 1918.  He participated in the following engagements: Mont Kemmel, Somme offensive 1918 (Hindenburg Line, Seine River). His DSC citation reads: “For extraordinary heroism in action east of Ronssoy, France on 29 September 1918. During the operations against the Hindenburg Line, Chaplain Ward, voluntarily and at a great risk to himself, went forward under heavy shell and machine gun fire to care for the wounded and to search for the dead. Twice he was ordered off the field of battle by officers, being told each time that it was sure death to remain. During the entire time his regiment was engaged he remained on the field under fire, displaying a fine example of bravery and courage which was an inspiration to all”. He returned to the US was discharged from active duty in March 1919.

1897
1st Lt. Jefferson Butler Fletcher US Army (US Army Ambulance Service) – Distinguished Service Cross He initially was an ambulance driver in the American Field Service with French Army on the Verdun front from June to August 1917. Inn November 1917, he was commissioned a 1st Lt. in the US Army Ambulance Service. He participated in the following engagements: Somme offensive and the Argonne Forest. His DSC citation notes. “For extraordinary  heroism in action at Aulry on 6 October 1918. Lt. Fletcher was on his way to establish an advance aid station during a heavy bombardment, when he was wounded by a shell fragment and his right eardrum broken. Two men accompanying him were killed, and the concussion of the exploding shell knocked him into a ditch full of water, where he lay for an hour. Displaying unfaltering devotion to duty, Lt. Fletcher continued on his mission, established the aid station and remained in command of his section". He returned to the US and was released from active duty in 1919.

1899
Lt. Colonel Harold Blanchard US Army (327th Infantry, 82nd Division) – Distinguished Service Cross He participated in the following engagements: Saint-Mihiel, Meuse –Argonne offensive, Toulon sector and the Marbache sector. His DSC citation notes. “For extraordinary heroism in action during the Meuse –Argonne, offensive from 7 to 21 October 1918. During 14 days of severe fighting, Major Blanchard was constantly on duty with his battalion, although suffering severely from bronchitis, the result of being gassed. He personally took command of a company, after all the officers had become casualties and led them through heavy artillery barrage and machine gunfire, gaining his objective. Immediately after his battalion was relieved, he collapsed from the severe strain”. He returned to the US and was released from active duty in May of 1919.

1900
Major Edward Ball Cole US Marine Corps (6th Regiment, 2nd Division) –  Navy Cross and Distinguished Service Cross He was also awarded the Legion d’Honneur. He was Killed in Action. His Navy Cross citation reads: “In the Bois de Belleau, France on 10 June 1918, his unusual heroism in leading his company under heavy fire enabled it to fight with exceptional effectiveness. He personally worked fearlessly until he was mortally wounded”. His DSC citation reads: “In the Bois de Belleau on 10 June 1918, he displayed extraordinary heroism in organizing positions rallying his men and discharging his guns, continuing to expose himself fearlessly until he fell. He suffered the loss of his right hand and received wounds in upper arm and both thighs”.

Major Duncan Gibert Harris US Army (309th Infantry, 78th Division) – Distinguished Service Cross and also awarded the Legion d’Honneur and the Croix de Guerre. He participated in the following engagements: Baccarat sector, Aisne-Oise offensive and the Meuse-Argonne offensive. His DSC citation reads: "For extraordinary heroism in action in the Argonne Forest. Major Harris fell and broke his collar bone, but he continued with his battalion throughout the attack and until the Meuse was reached. For 15 days he was continually with his battalion, personally leading them against strongly fortified enemy positions, although suffering acute and continued pain from his injury and being handicapped by having his arm in a sling." He returned to United States and was discharged in May 1919.

1st Lt. George Plummer Howe US Army (assigned to the 10th Engineering Battalion, Royal Fusiliers of the British Army as a medical officer) [MD Harvard Medical School, 1904] – Distinguished Service Cross  He was Killed in Action at Ypres, Belgium on 28 September 1917. He was born in Lawrence, MA and educated at St. Paul’s before entering Harvard College. After Harvard Med, he interned for 2 years at Boston City Hospital before going to Northern Alaska for 16 months as a surgeon on an expedition. Dr. Howe was later on the staff of Lawrence General and at the same time was an examiner for a life insurance company. He became very interested in anthropology and archeology and returned to graduate school at Harvard for 2 years for degrees in these areas. During this time, he became a teaching fellow in archeology at Harvard and spent a summer in Yucatan, Mexico on a collecting expedition. After being commissioned as a 1st Lt in the US Army Medical Corps in May 1917, he immediately sailed for France and was attached to Field Ambulance No. 48, British Expeditionary Forces and later with the Royal Fusiliers, 37th Division. He was wounded in August 1917 and died the following month. His DSC citation reads: "Although wounded in the head on the morning of 28 September 1917, during the operation on the Tower Hamlete Spur, east of Ypres, he displayed conspicuous courage and devotion in attending to wounded under very heavy and continuous shell fire, refusing to leave and continuing at his aid post until killed by a shell."

Major Harold Tappin US Army (General Headquarters A.E.F., Intelligence Section, Chaumont) – Military Cross (British) He sailed for France in October 1917. He was later attached to American Commission to Negotiate Peace, Paris, in December 1918 and as member of the Missions to Poland & Armenia in 1919. His Military Cross (British) cited by General Pershing reads: "For exceptionally meritorious and conspicuous services as chief of Dissemination Section, Intelligence Section, General Headquarters A.E.F." He returned to United States and was discharged in May 1920.

1901
Colonel Van Rensseiaer Choate King US Army (Transport Corps)– Distinguished Service Order (British). He was also awarded the Legion d’Honneur, the  Croix de Guerre (Belgian) and the Ordre de Leopold (Belgian). He participated in the following engagements: Meuse –Argonne offensive Baccarat sector and the Aisne-Oise offensive. His citation reads: “For exceptionally meritorious service as general superintendent of transportation in the handling of all movements of freight and troops and in the successful establishment of a car record office; later as Transportation Corps representative of the Permanent International Armistice Commission at Spa where he served with great credit.” He returned to the US and was discharged from active duty in early 1919.

Captain Leonard Coombes Hammond US Army (91st  Aero Squadron & 1st Army Observation Group) – Distinguished Service Cross He initially enlisted as a driver in the Harjes Ambulance Corps and served with the French Army on the Oise, Verdun, Aisne and Alsace fronts from  November 1915 to November 1916. He was then commissioned in the US Army as a 1st lieutenant (Infantry) assigned to 1st Group of Observers in the summer of 1917. He sailed for France December 17 and was attached to 52d Squadron, French Army for a year before shifting to the US Army 91st Aero Squadron and later the 1st Army Observation Group of Observers.  He participated in the following engagements: A Saint-Mihiel and Meuse-Argonne offensives and became an aviation Ace and officially credited with the destruction of six enemy airplanes. His DSC citation reads: "For extraordinary heroism in action in the region of Metz, France on  September 15, 1918. While on a photographic mission Lieutenant Hammond's formation was attacked by a superior number of enemy pursuit planes. Notwithstanding that the enemy planes succeeded in driving off the protecting planes, Lieutenant Hammond and his pilot, Lieutenant Dickma, continued on alone. Continually harassed by enemy aircraft, they completed their photographs, and on the return fought their way through an enemy patrol and destroyed one of the machines.". Furthermore, "On October 31, 1918, Captain Leonard C. Hammond, A.S., U.S.A., Observer, again displayed extraordinary heroism in the vicinity of Longuyon. While on a photographic mission, he and his pilot, Captain Kingman Douglass, with one other ship, were attacked by a superior number of enemy pursuit planes. Notwithstanding the numerical superiority of the enemy and the fact that his mission had been successfully completed and he could have easily reached the lines in safety, Captain Hammond encouraged his pilot to turn and dive at them. The enemy formation was broken, and in the ensuing combat one hostile plane was destroyed.”. He returned to the US and was discharged in January of 1919.

1902
Major Kenneth Pepperrrel Budd US Army (308th Infantry, 77th Division) – Distinguished Service Cross. He was also awarded the Legion d’Honneur. He participated in the following engagements: Meuse –Argonne offensive Baccarat sector and the Aisne-Oise offensive. His DSC citation reads: “For extraordinary heroism in action near Villesavoye, France on 16 August 1918. Although Major Budd’s post of command was subjected to continuous and concentrated gas attacks and despite the fact that he was severely gassed during the bombardment, he refuse to be evacuated, remaining for 3 days to superintend personally the relief of his battalion and the removal to the rear of men who had nee gassed”. He returned to the US and was discharged from active duty in early 1919.

1903
Major Stephen Henley Noyes US Army (Corps Observation Group, 1st Army - Commanding Officer) – Distinguished Service Cross and the Croix de Guerre.  He sailed for France on August 1917 and participated in the following engagements: Aisne defensive (Chateau-Thierry). Saint-Mihiel and Meuse-Argonne offensives. His DSC citation reads: “For extraordinary heroism in action near Chateau-Thierry, France on 18 October 1918. He volunteered under the most adverse weather conditions to stake the advance lines of the 82d Division. Disregarding the fact that darkness would set in before he and his observer could complete their mission, and at the extremely low altitude of 150 feet, he proceeded amid heavy anti-aircraft and ground machine-gun fire until the necessary information was secured. On the return, due to darkness, he was forced to land on a shell-torn field and proceeded on foot to headquarters with valuable information.” He returned to the US and was discharged from active duty in May 1919.

1904
Captain Tom Wynne Saul US Army (Tank Corps - Headquarters Company, 345th Battalion) – Distinguished Service Cross .  He sailed for France in August 1917 and participated in the following engagements: Saint-Mihiel and Meuse-Argonne offensives. His DSC citation reads: “For extraordinary heroism in action near the Bois de Remieres, France on 12 September 1918. He coolly exposed himself to enemy fire by standing on the parapet of a trench and directing his men in the work of getting the tanks forward.” He returned to the US and was discharged from active duty in the March of 1919

1905
Major Russell Willett Bryant  US Army (HQ Air Service, Military Aeronautics- London) – Distinguished Service Order (British) He sailed for France in October 1917. His citations cited by General Pershing stated: “For exceptionally meritorious and conspicuous service at Bouse section No. 3, England”. He returned to the US and was discharged from active duty in the middle of 1919

Captain Walter Williamson Manton US Army MC [Harvard Medical School – 1911] (26th  Infantry, 1st  Division) – Distinguished Service Cross.  He was also awarded the Legion d’Honneur and the Croix de Guerre . He sailed for France in August 1917 and organized American Red Cross Military Hospital No. 3 in Paris. He participated in the following engagements: Ansauville sector, Cantigny sector, Montdidier-Noyon defensive and Marne-Aisne offensive His DSC citation reads: “For extraordinary heroism in action at Soissons, France on 8 July 1918. Accompanying his battalion in the attack, he was with the second wave when he sustained a compound fracture of the right forearm from a bursting shell. He nevertheless refused to go to the rear, but remained on duty until the final objective was reached in the afternoon, attending the wounded and directing their evacuation”. He was wounded in July 1918 but stayed in  Europe until 1919, when he was released from active duty.

Lt. Col. Barry Wentworth Roscoe Royal Canadian Army (5th Canadian Mounted Rifles Battalion) – Distinguished Service Order (British). He sailed for France in June of 1915. He was wounded in April 1916 and invalided to Canada. He was promoted to General but took a rank reduction to major in order to return to France.  .He participated in the following engagements: Ypres (Sanctuary Wood), Somme and Vimy Ridge. His DSO citation reads: “At Maple Copse on 2 June 1916 for the brave and efficient manner in which he led his men through enemy barrage fire to Maple Copse; and arriving there for the splendid leadership displayed by him in the position of his men at the east end of the Copse, which position he maintained till wounded, and from which position overwhelming numbers of the enemy were unable to dislodge his men, although extremely heavy casualties were suffered”. He returned to the Canada and was released from active duty in 1919.

Major Harrison Briggs Webster US Army MC [Harvard Medical School – 1909] (4h Infantry, 4th Division) Distinguished Service Cross.  He was Killed in Action. He sailed for France in May 1918 and served as the regimental surgeon. He participated in the following engagements: Ansauville sector, Cantigny sector, Montdidier-Noyon defensive and Marne-Aisne offensive. His DSC citation reads: “For extraordinary heroism in action near Bois de Brieulles, France from 26 September to 12 October 1918. After seeing that his personnel were functioning properly, he went fearlessly to positions in the front lines. When stretcher bearers were unable to handle the large number of casualties, he personally took a light German wagon to the front lines and gathered the wounded. His personal bravery was an inspiration to his men throughout his service. He was killed by shell fire on October I2, 1918”.

1906
Lt. Colonel Walter Simonds Franklin US Army (Office of Director of Army Transport Service, Tours, France) – Distinguished Service Order (British) and the Legion d’Honneur. His DSO citation reads: "Joined directorate of movements in middle of February 1918 as liaison officer for the movements of American troops through the United Kingdom and remained with the directorate until middle of December 1918 when he went to France. He proved himself a most able and efficient officer and showed the greatest tact, energy and judgment in his dealings both with the staff in the War Office and with the staffs at the ports in the United Kingdom and the smooth working of the transport of the American troops was very largely due to the cordial cooperation of this officer." His Legion d'Honneur citation written by General Pershing is:  "For exceptionally meritorious  services at Base Section No. 3”. He returned to the US and was discharged from active duty in the middle of 1919.”

1907
Major Walter George Oakman  Royal Army [British] (Coldstream Guards) – Distinguished Service Order.  From September to December 1914, he volunteered as a driver in the American Volunteer Motor Ambulance Corps with the French Army on Arras-Albert front. He returned to England and immediately enlisted as a petty officer mechanic (Armoured Car Division) in the Royal Navy and was sent to France in March 1915. He was then commissioned as a sub Lt. in May 1915 but resigned from the Royal Navy in October 1915 and was commissioned a 2nd Lt in the Coldstream Guards. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion but was wounded in March 1916 and returned to England and remained in the hospital until December 1916. He then rejoined the 2nd Battalion in France until he was wounded again in September1917 near Houthulst Forest, Belgium and again wounded in  November 30 at Gouzaucourt. He participated in the following engagements: Neuve-Chapelle- Armentieres front (1915), Ypres (1916) and Flanders (1917). “For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty when in command of the left company of an attacking wave, and of both companies, after the company on his right had lost all their officers. Though checked by a group of concrete block houses, he made dispositions to outflank them, and finally reached the second objective. He had been wounded in the shoulder a few days previously, and was suffering great pain throughout the operations”. He was discharged from active duty in the middle of 1919.

Captain Conrad Wesselhoeft US Army MC [Harvard Medical School – 1911] (104th Infantry, 26th  Division) Distinguished Service Cross.  He was also awarded the Croix de Guerre . He sailed for France in October 1918 and was appointed surgeon of the 101st Ammunition Train. He participated in the following engagements: Chemin des Dames sector, La Ileine sector, Chateau-Thierry: Saint- Mihiel and Meuse-Argonne offensives. His DSC citation reads: “For extraordinary heroism in action near Verdun, France on 8 November 1918. Captain Wesselhoeft went forward, under heavy machine gun fire, to the aid of a wounded soldier. The fire was so heavy that they were compelled to remain in the shell hole until nightfall, when he brought the wounded man to our lines”. He returned to the US and was discharged from active duty in the March 1919.

1908
Captain Arnold Fraser-Campbell Royal Army [British] (Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, 51st Division) – 2 Military Crosses (British). Initially, he was a battalion bombing and grenade officer. He was wounded in October 1916. After recuperating in Scotland, Captain Fraser-Campbell returned to the front as a company commander and was wounded a 2nd time.  He participated in the following engagements: 2d Battle of Ypres, La Bassee, La Rue-de-Bois (Givenchy), Festubert 1915; Cambrai 1917; Saint- Quentin 1918. He was demobilized in 1920.

Captain Reuben Brent Hutchcraft  US Army (166th Infantry, 42nd Division) – Distinguished Service Cross. He was Killed in Action. He sailed for France in September 1917 and participated in the following engagements: Luneville sector, Baccarat sector, Champagne-Marne defensive, Saint-Mihiel and Meuse-Argonne offensives.  His DSC citation reads: “For extraordinary heroism in action near Sedan, France on 7 November 1918. Captain Hulchcraft personally took command of a platoon of his company which was designated as advance guard and led his patrol to the most advanced point reached by any of our troops during the engagement. He was killed while making reconnaissance within thirty yards of enemy machine guns."

Lt.(j.g.) Ralph Lane Loomis US Navy (Naval Aviation -  Attached to the Northern Bombing Group) – Navy Cross. He enlisted as a private in the French Foreign Legion in July 1917. He subsequently was transferred to French Aviation Service and detailed to various French Military Aviation schools He was honorably discharged from French Army and immediately commissioned as an ensign in the US Naval Reserve and assigned to US Naval Air Station, Dunkerque, France. His Navy Cross citation reads: “For distinguished and heroic services as an aviator in an aeroplane engaged in active operations with the Allied Armies on the Belgian Front during September, October and November 1918, bombing enemy bases. Aerodromes, submarine bases, ammunition dumps, railroad junctions etc.” He then returned United States in September 1918 and was released from active duty in July 1919.

Sous Lt. Norman Prince French Foreign Legion (Lafayette Squadron [# 124] - Founder and Commanding Officer) [Harvard Law School: 1911] –Legion d’Honneur as well as the Military Medal and the  Croix de Guerre (all French awards). Has was Killed in Action. Lt. Prince enlisted as a private in the French Foreign Legion and later received aviation training at French schools. After 1½ years, he was assigned to Squadron N124 (Lafayette Squadron) as a brevetted pilot and promoted to sergeant later commissioned Sous Lt. He was injured in the line of duty in October 1916 and shortly later died of his injuries. He is an Aviation Ace and officially credited with the destruction of five enemy airplanes.

Lt.(j.g.) Howard Rutherford Shaw US Navy (USS Christabel) – Navy Cross  awarded for heroism during World War I.  Prior the USS Christabel, he was assigned to US Naval Air Station in Pauillac, France and later the USS Kaiser and subsequently the USS Birmingham.  His Navy Cross citation reads: “For distinguished service in the line of his profession as Officer of the Deck of the USS Christabel on the occasion of an encounter with an enemy submarine on 21 May 1918. In promptly heading for the submarine with the intent to ram, with the result that it was possible to drop depth charges at the right time and place, damaging the submarine so severely that she was obliged to intern at Santander, Spain, for the remainder of the war.” He returned to the US in April 1919 and released from active duty 2 months later.

1909
Lt. Colonel Hamilton Fish III US Army  (36th Infantry Division, aka the “Harlem Hell fighters”-Commanding Officer) – Distinguished Service Cross as well as the Silver Star and Croix de Guerre. Born in Garrison, NY and educated at St. Mark’s before entering Harvard where he was a member of the Porcellian Club, captain of the football team and twice elected to the All American football team His great grandfather served a major in Washington’s Army and was close friend of Alexander Hamilton. His great grandmother was a direct descendent of Peter Stuyvesant the Dutch colonial governor of New York and his grandfather served as governor of New York, US Senator and President Grant’s Secretary of State. After graduating cum laude from Harvard College, he worked in an insurance office until the start of World War I when he joined the Harlem Hell fighters, which consisted of black American enlisted soldiers with white officers. He sailed for France in December 1917 where his unit was placed under control the French army by General Pershing. His division then spent 191 days on the front lines which is the longest of any American unit in World War I and was the first Allied regiment to reach the Rhine River. His engagements include: Champagne-Marne defensive, Vienne-la-Ville sector and the Meuse- Argonne offensive. He returned to the US in April 1919 and released from active duty 1 month later. Lt. Colonel Fish was one of founders and former national commander of the American Legion. He was elected to congress in 1920 and introduced the legislation for the tomb of the Unknown Soldier and then served in House of representatives until his defeat in 1944.

Lt. Col. Chalmers Jack Mersereau Royal Canadian Army (5th Canadian Infantry Brigade) – Distinguished Service Order (British). He sailed for France in October 1914. He was wounded in April and invalided to Canada. He was promoted to General but took a rank reduction to major in order to return to France.  .He participated in the following engagements: Second battle of Ypres (1915), Lens (1917), Vimy (1918), Arras, Amiens, Canal du Nord, Cambrai and Mons. His DSO citation reads: “In operations north of Cambrai during the period 1 to 14 October 1918, his battalion relieved the front line under heavy artillery and machine gun fire during the night of 1 & 2 October. During the night 8 7 9October,  they carried out a most successful night operation, crossing a canal under very difficult conditions, afterwards capturing a village and inflicting casualties and taking many prisoners. The success of this operation was largely due to the initiative and gallant behavior shown by this officer” He returned to the Canada and was released from active duty in 1919.

1910
Private Saxton Conant Foss US Army (9th Infantry, 2nd Division) – Distinguished Service Cross. He was Killed in Action. Private Foss participated in the following engagements: Toulon-Troyon sectors, Aisne defensive, Chateau-Thierry, Marne- Aisne offensive, Marbache sector, Saint- Mihiel offensive, Champagne offensive 1918 (Blanc Mont Ridge).  His DSC citation reads: “For extraordinary heroism in action near Medeah Farm, France, October 8, 1918. With exceptional courage, Private Foss voluntarily advanced to flank a machine gun nest unaided which was holding up the advancing battalion and in so doing was fatally wounded."

Lt.(j.g.) Silas Stanley Kent US Navy (Sub Chaser #260) –  Navy Cross  He  initially enlisted in the Navy was promoted to Machinist Mate 2nd class before being selected for Officer material school and commissioned as an ensign and assigned to Submarine Chaser #260. He sailed overseas in  May 1918; transferred to La Pallice, France. Later he was an assistant to naval port officer and then on the USS Piqua on overseas patrol duty as the navigator. His Navy Cross citation reads: “For distinguished service in the line of his profession as Commanding Officer of the USSC N0. 260 engaged in the important and hazardous duty of patrolling in the War Zone and operating against enemy submarines.” He returned to the US and was released from active duty in 1919.

Lt. Leon Magaw Little US Navy (USS Joseph Cudahy) – Navy Cross  awarded for heroism during World War I. After his commissioning, he served on the USS Nebraska, USS Joseph Cudahy and the USS Arkansas. His Navy Cross citation reads: “For distinguished service in the line of his profession as Commander of the Armed Guard of the USS. Joseph Cudahy, and in encounters with enemy submarines. On 17 November 1917, a periscope was sighted and the ship fired nine shots, when the submarine disappeared, again reappeared, when six more shots were fired, and finally disappeared. In November 1917 at night, sighted a submarine close aboard, attempted to ram and fired three shots, when gun jammed. The submarine then disappeared." He returned to the US and was released from active duty in 1919.

1st Lt. George Buchanan Redwood US Army (28th Infantry, 1st Division) – Distinguished Service Cross  and also awarded the Croix de Guerre. He was  Killed in Action. Lt. Redwood participated in the following engagements:Ansauvflle sector and Cantigny. His DSC citation reads: “For extraordinary heroism in action at Seicheprey, France, March 88, 1918. With great daring he led a patrol of our men into a dangerous portion of the enemy trenches, where the patrol surrounded a party nearly double their own strength, captured a greater number than themselves, drove off an enemy rescuing party, and made their way bade to our lines with four prisoners, from whom valuable information was taken. He was later awarded an oak-leaf cluster to be worn with the Distinguished Service Cross as noted in the related citation: "For the following act of extraordinary heroism at Cantigny, France on 28  May 2 1918, he conducted himself fearlessly to obtain information of the enemy's action. Although wounded, he volunteered to reconconnoiter the enemy's line, which was reported to be under consolidation. While making a sketch of the German position on this mission he was under heavy fire, and continued his work after being fatally wounded until it was completed. The injuries sustained at this time caused his death”

1911
Major Cornelius Beard US Army (101st engineers, 26th Division) – Distinguished Service Cross He sailed for France in September 1917 and participated in the following engagements: Chemin des Dames sector, La Reine sector, Pas Fini sector and Chateau- Thierry. His  DSC citation notes . “On 17 March 1918 at the front near Chariynon, France, he was knocked down by a shell explosion, which caused him to lose consciousness. Upon regaining consciousness he searched for and found some of his men. During 2 hours, he assisted Sgt. Reed and Corporal Belander of his detachment back to the trenches, part of the time under fire of a German aviator and of German artillery. His energy, self-sacrifice and spirit through out the operation were of the highest order.” He returned to the US in July 1918 and was released from active duty in September of 1919.

1st Lt. Francis Wood Gilbert US Army (307th Infantry, 77th Division ) – Distinguished Service Cross . He sailed for France in April 1918 and participated in the following engagements: Marne-Aisne, Aisne-Oise and Meuse-Argonne offensives.. His DSC citation reads: “For extraordinary heroism in action near Fismes, France in 26 August 1918, and near Remilly, France on 10 November 1918. On 26 August, Lt. Gilbert made a daylight reconnaissance of the ruins of the Tannerie, near Fismes, entered Fismes under direct observation and fire of the enemy, and continued his reconnaissance along the Routn-Rheims road under machine-gun fire, for the purpose of ascertaining whether or not the terrain was favorable for an attack on the Chateau du Diable. On 10 November, he voluntarily led a patrol across the River Meuse and located the enemy positions.” He returned to the US in April 1919 and was released from active duty in May of 1919.

Captain James Norman Hall, US Army (103rd Pursuit Squadron, 3rd Pursuit Group, 1st Army) – Distinguished Service Cross and the Legion d’Honneur plus several other French military awards. He initially enlisted as a private in the 9th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers (British Army) in August 1914. In December 1915, he then enlisted as a private in the French Foreign Legion and later received aviation training at French schools. After 1½ years, he was assigned to Squadron N124 (Lafayette Squadron) as a brevetted pilot when he was then shot down and wounded .He subsequently  transferred to Squadron Spad 112 and  Squadron N 124 when he was promoted to sergeant in December 1917. He was then honorably discharged for the Foreign Legion in February 1918 and immediately commissioned as a captain in the US Army (Aviation Section of the Signal Corps). Captain Hall was again wounded and then taken a prisoner of war for over 8 months before his release after the end of the war.  He participated in the following engagements: Aisne, Verdun, Vosges and Champagne sectors. He is officially credited with the destruction of three enemy airplanes. His DSC citation reads: “On March 1918 while leading a patrol of three, Captain Hall attacked a group of five enemy fighters and three enemy two-seaters, himself destroying one and forcing down two others in a fight lasting more than twenty minutes”. He returned to the US and was discharged in March of 1919.

Lt. Richard Walworth Hall US Navy (Submarine Chaser No. 257, Commanding Officer) –  Navy Cross  awarded for heroism during World War I. His Navy Cross citation reads: “For distinguished service in the line of his profession as Commanding Officer of the USSC 257 engaged in the important, exacting and hazardous duly of patrolling the waters of the War Zone and operating against enemy submarines.” He returned to the US and was released from active duty in 1919.

Captain Theodore Stanwood Kenyon US Army (306th engineers, 77th Division) – Distinguished Service Cross .He was also awarded the Legion d’Honneur and the Croix de Guerre. He sailed for France in April 1918 and participated in the following engagements: Baccarat sector, Aisne-Oise offensive (Vesle River) and the Meuse-Argonne offensive. His  DSC citation notes . “For extraordinary heroism in action in the forest of Argonne, France on 27 September 1918.  He displayed exceptional qualities of leadership and gallantry in action while leading his company against a counterattack of the enemy in superior numbers. Later although three times wounded, he remained with his command.” He returned to the United States and was released from active duty in May 1919.

Lt. General Hanford MacNider US Army (9th Infantry, 2nd  Division in WWI and 32nd Infantry Division in WWII)–3 Distinguished Service Crosses. He was also awarded the Legion d’Honneur, Croce al Merito di Guerra, 3 Silver Stars, 2 Bronze Stars, 2 Purple Hearts and the Philippine Legion of Honor. Born in Mason, Iowa and educated at Milton Academy before entering Harvard. After graduating from college, he joined the Army National Guard and participated in the Pancho Via Expedition in Mexico. During WWI, He participated in the following engagements: Chateau-Thierry, Aisne defensive, Marne-Aisne offensive, Marbache sector, Saint-Mihiel offensive, Champagne offensive (Blanc-Mont Ridge) and the Meuse-Argonne offensive. His first DSC during WWI citation reads: “For extraordinary heroism in action near Medeah Farm, France from 3 to 9 October 1918. He voluntarily joined an attacking battalion an October 3, and accompanied it to its final objectives. During the second attack on the same day he acted as runner through heavy artillery and machine-gun fire. He visited the lines both night and day, where the fighting was most severe. When higher authority could not be reached, he assumed responsibilities and gave the necessary orders to stabilize serious situations. When new and untried troops took up the attack, he joined their forward elements, determined the enemy points of resistance by personal reconnaissance, uncovered enemy machine-gun nests, and supervised their destruction."  He was then awarded an oak-leaf cluster, to be worn with Distinguished Service Cross, for the following act of extraordinary heroism in action near Remenauville, France on 12 September 1918:"On duty as regimental adjutant, while carrying instructions to the assaulting lines, he found the line unable to advance and being disorganized by a heavy machine-gun fire. Running forward in the face of the fire, this officer captured a German machine gun, drove off the crew, reorganized the line on that flank, and thereby enabled the advance to continue”. He returned to the US and was discharged from active duty in September 1919. Before World War II, General MacNider served as the Nation commander of the American Legion in 1921 and latter appointed to Assistance Secretary of War under President Coolidge and then the US ambassador to Canada by President Hoover in 1930. During World War II, he commanded the 32nd Infantry Division and was wounded in the Buna Invasion in New Guinea in November of 1942. He retired from the Army in 1951 and then died in 1968.

Captain Ira Charles Ogden US Army (2d Battalion, 141st Infantry- Commanding Officer) – Distinguished Service Cross . He was also awarded the Croix de Guerre. He participated in the following engagements: Champagne offensive 1918 (Saint-Etienne- a-Arnes). Killed in Action. His DSC citation reads: “For extraordinary heroism in action near Saint-Hitienne, France on 9 & 101918. Due to casualties among field officers, Captain Ogden was placed in command of the support line. On the afternoon of 10 October, an advance was ordered and he requested permission to accompany the front line. He was placed in command of the front line of the regiment and advanced with it at 4.30 p. m. Regardless of personal danger, he crossed areas swept by machine gunfire, and was killed in action shortly after he had reported as having reached the objective.”.  

Captain Stanley Donald Skene Royal Canadian Army (15th Battalion, 48th  Canadian Highlanders) – Military Cross (British). He sailed for France in April 1917 and was Killed in Action on 10 October 1918 near Vitry-en-Artois, France He participated in the following engagements: Passchendaele, Somme (Amiens) and  Arras-Cambrai. His Military Cross citation reads: “For heroic coolness and patience in carrying out his duty as Intelligence Officer and securing valuable information just previous to the Arras-Cambrai operations”.

1912
Major Ivan Robert Madge Royal Army [British] (50th Northumbrian) – Military Cross .He went to France in May 1916 and participated in the following engagements: Ancre 1916, Somme battle 1916, Vimy Ridge 1917, Ypres 1917, Somme defensive 1918 and the Somme offensive. He was wounded and then later gassed  and twice invalided to England. He was demobilized in April 1919.

Captain Robinson Murray US Army  (38th Infantry, 3rd Division) – Distinguished Service Cross. He was also awarded the Legion d'Honneur and the Croix de Guerre.  He sailed to France in March 1918 and participated in the following engagements: Aisne and Champagne-Marne defensives, Marne- Aisne, Saint-Mihiel and Meuse-Argonne offensives. His DSC citation reads: “For extraordinary heroism in action near Mezy, France in July 1918.Lt. Murray alone attacked an enemy observation post held by ten of the enemy. He later organized a detachment of scattered men and filled a gap in our lines”. He returned to the US and was released from active duty in the middle of 1919.

Captain William Edward Patrick US Army – [Harvard Divinity School: 1915] (23rd Infantry, 2nd Division) Distinguished Service Cross . He enlisted in the Army in 1917 and was sent to France and served on the Soissons and Lorraine fronts in Base Section No. 1, A.E.F. and then the 23d Engineers. He then  resigned from the Army and was commissioned on the same day as 1st Lt.  in the Chaplain Corps. He then participated in the following engagements: Marbache sector, Saint-Mihiel offensive, Champagne offensive 1918 (Blanc-Mont Ridge), Meuse-Argonne offensive. His  DSC citation notes . “For extraordinary heroism in action during operations on the Meuse River, France from 1 to 11 November 1918. During this period, Chaplain Patrick constantly exposed himself to the enemy fire, while giving first aid to the wounded and assisting in their evacuation.” He returned to the United States and was released from active duty in the middle of 1919.

Captain Kermit Roosevelt US Army (7th Field Artillery, 1st Division) – Military  Cross ( British) and also awarded the War Cross (Montenegro).He graduated from Groton before matriculating at Harvard, where he was a member of the Porcellian Club. In August 1917, Kermit was commissioned as a captain in the British Army and participated in serious fighting in the Mesopotamia (modern-day Iraq). He was attached to the 14th Light Armoured Motor Battery of the Machine Gun Corps, but the British High Command decided they could not risk his life and so they made him an officer in charge of transport (Ford Model T cars). From then on, however, Captain Roosevelt made it his main aim in life to get his Ford in front of the armor. With his incredible talent for languages, within months of being posted to Iraq, he had mastered spoken as well as written Arabic and was often relied upon as a translator with the locals. He was courageous which some said was to the point of recklessness and was awarded a Military Cross on 26 August 1918.When the United States joined the war, Kermit relinquished his British commission and transferred to the US Army in Europe. He then sailed to France in May 1918 and participated in the Meuse-Argonne offensive. He returned to the US and was released from active duty in the March of 1919. By 14 October 1939, when Britain was at war with Germany, Kermit had negotiated a commission as a Second Lieutenant in the Middlesex Regiment with the assistance of his friend, Winston Churchill (i.e. then the then prime minister of Britain) His first task was to lead a contingent of British volunteers for the Winter War in Finland. He had resigned from the British Army to lead the expedition which was a necessary cover so that he would be able to travel with the volunteers through neutral countries. However before the expedition could be launched, Finland was forced to make peace with Russia. Kermit served with distinction in a raid into Norway and was later sent to North Africa, where there was little action at the time. At the end of 1940, he returned to England and was discharged from the army on health grounds on 2 May 1941, by which time he had once again reached the rank of captain. Kermit had appealed this discharge all the way to the British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill. Churchill, after reviewing his record, upheld the medical discharge.President Franklin D. Roosevelt thought it would be best if Kermit  were moved as far as possible from some of his friends who were such a negative influence on him, gave him a commission as a major in the United States Army, and had him transferred and posted to Fort Richardson, Alaska, where he worked as an intelligence officer and helped establish a territorial militia of Eskimos and Aleuts. In Alaska far from home, Kermit continued to fight his lifelong battle with chronic depression and alcohol and he died on active duty in the Army on 4 June 1943.

1913
Lt. Winthrop Pyemont Royal Army [British] (Royal Garrison Artillery) – Military Cross with bar .He went to France in august 1914 and participated in the following engagements: Mons (1914), Battle of the Marne (1914), Somme battle (1916), Aras (1917), Passchendaele Ridge (1917) and Moral forest (1918) His Military Cross citation read: “For very conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty during the operations near the Butte de Warlencoutnon on 6 November 1916 . Throughout that day and night, Lt. Pyemont worked personally, without ceasing on the difficult and dangerous task of keeping intact the telephone lines between the advanced Brigade HQ and the assaulting battalions under a shell fire which was so continuous that the line were cut far more frequently than they could be mended. On at least one occasion,. Lt. Pyemont was thrown to the ground as he worked by the explosion of shells close to him. The depth of the mud made movement so difficult as to render the work well nigh hopeless. Lt. Pyemont, however, stuck to the task he had set himself with great gallantry and determination from start to finish. Lt. Pyemont has served through out the war, being one of the original motor dispatch riders who enlisted on the outbreak of the war.” His 2nd citation reads; “For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty North East of Langemark from 23 October to 9 November 1917. He laid and maintained telephone lines to the advance brigade exchange under continuous fire. Though several times affected by gas, he refused to withdraw and inspired his men by his courageous example”. He returned to England and was demobilized in February 1919.

1914
Lt. Sydney Procter Clark  US Navy (Sub Chaser #34-Commanding Officer) –  Navy Cross  awarded for heroism during World War I. Sailed overseas in April 1918. His Navy Cross citation reads: “For distinguished service in the line of his profession as Commanding Officer of the USSC N0. 84 engaged in the important and hazardous duty of patrolling in the War Zone and operating against enemy submarines.” He returned to the US and was released from active duty in 1919.

1st Lt. Alan Ramsey Cole US Army (1st Infantry, 1st Division) – Distinguished Service Cross .  He sailed to France in September 1917 and participated in the following engagements: Ansauville sector, Noyon-Montdidier defensive, Marne-Aisne offensive and Muese- Argonne. His DSC citation reads: “For extraordinary heroism in action near Soissons, France on 18 July 1918. Although wounded early in the morning, Lt. Cole continued to lead his platoon in the front wave personally silencing machine gun nests, displaying wonderful courage, leadership and devotion to duty, during the entire operations. He remained with his platoon until ordered to the rear by his battalion commander”. He returned to the US and was released from active duty late in 1919.

1st Lt.  Arnold  Hebert Cone  US Army (39th Infantry, 4th  Division) – Distinguished Service Cross . He sailed for France May 1918 and participated in the following engagements: Marne-Aisne offensive, Muese- Argonne, and the St. Mihiel offensive (Verdun). His DSC citation reads: “For extraordinary heroism in action east of Montfaucon, France on 26 September 1918. Lt. Cone led the assault wave forward thought heavy machine gunfire in an attack against a strongly defended enemy position. He was forced to pass through barbed wire entanglements before entering the enemy trenches. While exposing himself to intense machine gun fire, he was badly wounded but his command, inspired by his gallant example gained and held the objective sought. ” He returned to the US and was released from active duty late in early 1919.

1st Lt. Charles Warner Plummer US Army (88th  Aero Squadron) – Distinguished Service Cross . He was also awarded the Croix de Guerre. He sailed for France in July 1917 and participated in the Vesle sector (Fismes) where he was Killed in Action on 11 August 1918. 1st. Lt. was engaged in a hazardous photographic mission with other planes in his squadron over the enemy’s line but “was shot down and killed after vigorous, aided in driving off the German planes and was materially responsible for the successful execution of the photographic mission”.

Captain Willard Smith US Army (9th Infantry Division) – Distinguished Service Cross  He sailed for France in September 1917 and was Killed in Actionin September 1918 at Saint-Mihiel, France. He participated in the following engagements: Toulon-Troyon sectors, Aisne defensive, Chateau-Thierry, Marne-Aisne offensive, Marbache sector and the Saint-Mihiel offensive. His DSC citation reads: “For extraordinary heroism in action near Remenauville, France on 12 September 1918. Lt. Smith was killed while gallantly assisting in maintaining liaison between the troops advancing on the open ground to the west of the Bois de four. It was due to Lt. Smiths’ fearless example while leading his men that the line was held intact at this point.”

1915
1st Lt. Robert Winthrop Kean US Army  (15th Field Artillery, 2nd Division) – Distinguished Service Cross. He sailed for France in September 1917 and was transferred to General Headquarters A.E.F., Chaumont, in October for duty with the Intelligence Section. He later was detailed to Army Intelligence School, Langres, in November as instructor and finally transferred to Army of Occupation, Intelligence Section, Germany in January 1919, He was appointed assistant military attaché American Embassy in Paris in March 1919. He participated in the following engagements: Sommedieue sector, Chateau- Thierry, Marne-Aisne offensive, Marbache sector. His DSC citation reads: “For extraordinary heroism in action near Vierzy, France in July 1918. He accompanied two successive waves of Infantry in the attack on Vierzy and Villemontoire. He exposed himself with almost reckless disregard of the enemy's heavy shell and machine gun fire, secured valuable information for the artillery as to the location of our own and the enemy's lines, and personally took command of an isolated 9th Infantry machine gun detachment that had lost its officers by heavy fire. Lt. Kean actually accompanied three successive waves of the 23rd Infantry, the 9th Infantry as well as an attack by French Infantry without rest. His endurance and courage were exceptional and most inspiring upon this occasion, and upon all other occasions of attack by the 3rd Division.” He was released from active duty in France in late in May 1919.

Corporal Norman Lewis Torrey US Army (101st Field Artillery, 26th Division) – Distinguished Service Cross. He sailed for France on September 1917 and was gassed on 15 July 1918. He participated in the following engagements: La Reine sector (Apremont & Seicheprey), Marne-Aisne, Saint-Mihiel and Meuse-Argonne offensives. His DSC citation reads: “For extraordinary heroism in action near Verdun, France from 23 to 27 October 1918. He acted as a runner for the artillery liaison officer and after this officer returned wounded, voluntarily remained for twenty- four hours, acting as a runner for the infantry, constantly passing through the most intense artillery and machine gun fire”. He returned to the US and was released from active duty in the middle of 1919.

Sergeant Dana Newcomb Trimble US Army  (1st Engineers, 1st Division) – Distinguished Service Cross. He sailed for France on August 1917 and was wounded on 1 April 1918. He participated in the following engagements: Sommer- viller sector, Ansauvule sector, Cantigny and Marne-Aisne offensive. His DSC citation reads: “For extraordinary heroism in action near Soissans, France during July 1918. He volunteered and obtained the consent of his company commander to recover wounded men from an exposed area in front of the line. He went through a violent bombardment in the performance of this duty three times and stopped only when he himself had been severely wounded”. He returned to the US and was released from active duty in the middle of 1919.

1916
Captain Ralph Bridges Bagby US Army  (88th Aero Squadron, 3rd Corps Observation Group, 1st Army AEF) – Distinguished Service Cross. He previously was in Field artillery and attached for several months with the 4th French Army. He participated in the following engagements: Champaign- Marne defensive, Marne-Aisne, Aisne-Oise, Saint-Mihiel and Meuse –Argonne offensive. He is credited with the destruction of one enemy airplane. His DSC citation reads: “For extraordinary heroism in action near Tailly, France on 2 November 1918. Lt. Bagby with 1st Lt. Louis Bernheimer, pilot, on their own initiative, went on a reconnaissance mission, flying 50 kilometers behind German lines, securing valuable information as to the condition of bridges across the Meuse River and enemy activity in the back areas and also harassing enemy troops”. He returned to the US in 1919 and remained on active duty for several more years.

2nd Lt. Kenneth Eliot Fuller US Army  (Company C, 23rd  Infantry) – Distinguished Service Cross. He sailed for France in March 1918 and participated in the following engagements: Chateau-Thierry, Marne-Aisne offensive (Vierzv, Vaux- Castille). He was Killed in Action. His DSC citation reads: “For extraordinary heroism in action near Vaux-Casiille, France on 18 July 1918. When his company was temporarily halted by heavy machine gun fire, 2nd Lt. Fuller personally led a group of ten men in an attack on the machine gun position. He was killed while leading this attack, but due to his heroic example, the enemy position was captured and his company was able to continue its advance”.

Lt.(j.g.) Tappan Eustis Francis US Navy (Sub Chaser #254 – Commanding Officer) – Navy Cross  awarded for heroism during World War I.  He was a mustang that was previously a  MM2 on the patrol Boat Cossack, After his commissioning, he served on the USS Oklahoma, USS Florida and US Naval HQ- London.  His Navy Cross citation reads: “For distinguished service in the line of his profession as Commanding Officer of the USSC N0. 254 while engaged in the removal of the North Sea Mine Barrage." He returned to the US and was released from active duty in August 1919.

Lt.(j.g.) David Edward Judd US Navy (Naval Aviation - Attached to the Northern Bombing Group) –  Navy Cross. He was an ambulance driver in the American Field Service with French Army on Argonne and Champagne fronts from January to July 1917. He then enlisted as a private in the French Foreign Legion in July 1917. He subsequently was transferred to Aviation Service and detailed to Schools of Military Aviation, Avord, Pau, and Le Plessis-Belleville and brevetted as a pilot in October 1917 and assigned to Squadron Spa 73 (Lafayette Flying Corps) in December 1917. He was honorably discharged from French Army in January 1918. His combat engagements were in the Aisne and Verdun fronts. He was immediately commissioned as an ensign in the US Naval Reserve and assigned to US Naval Air Station, Dunkerque, France. A month later, again transferred to the Northern Bombing Group. His Navy Cross citation reads: “For distinguished and heroic services as an aviator in an aeroplane engaged in active operations with the Allied Armies on the Belgian Front during September, October and November 1918, bombing enemy bases. Aerodromes, submarine bases, ammunition dumps, railroad junctions etc.” He then returned United States in September 1918 and served as flight instructor until he was released from in February 1919.

Lt. Charles Gray Little US Navy (Navy Aviator- dirigibles) – Navy Cross  awarded for heroism during World War I.  He sailed for France in November 1917. His Navy Cross citation reads: “For distinguished service in the line of his profession as Commanding Officer of a dirigible engaged in patrol and convoy flights in the War Zone, in which operations he did exceptional work, and pushed his flights to the limits of physical and material endurance” He returned to the US and was released from active duty at the end of 1919.

Lt. David Percy Morgan US Navy  (Northern Bombing Group) – Navy Cross. He enlisted in the NY Naval Military and was activated at the start of the war and assigned to the USS Ohio. In January of 1918, he transferred to Naval aviation and was commissioned an ensign. His Navy Cross citation reads: “Far distinguished and heroic service as an aviator in an aeroplane in active operation cooperating with the Allied Armies on the Belgian Front during September, October and November 1918, bombing enemy bases, aerodromes, submarine bases, ammunition dumps, railroad junctions, etc. attached to Northern Bombing Group". He returned to the US and was released from active duty early in 1919.

1st Lt. Ellsworth Allen Stone US Army  (326th Infantry, 82nd Division) – Distinguished Service Cross. He sailed for France on 15 January 1918 and was wounded on 11 October and returned to United States. He participated in the following engagements: Saint-Mihiel offensive and Meuse- Argonne offensive (Saint-Juvin). His DSC citation reads: “For extraordinary heroism in action near Saint-Juvin, France on 11 October 1918. Leading his platoon under withering machine gun and artillery fire, Lt. Stone, although wounded, admirably led his men on until ordered to withdraw. He personally supervised the evacuation of the wounded, and, in taking a new position, he was again wounded. Scarcely able to stand, he remained in the action until ordered to the rear by his company commander”. He returned to the US and was released from active duty in May1919.

Lt.(j.g.) Frederick Simonds Whitlock US Navy (Submarine Chaser No. 216 – Commanding Officer) –  Navy Cross. He enlisted as gunner mate second class in May of 1917 and was commissioned an ensign four months later. He sailed overseas in April 1918  His Navy Cross citation reads: “For distinguished service in the line of his profession as Commanding Officer of the U.S.S.C. No. 216, engaged in the important, exacting and hazardous duty of patrolling the waters of the War Zone and operating against enemy submarines.” He returned to the US and was released from active duty in the middle of 1919.

1917
1st Lt. Thomas James Abemethy US Army (147th Aero Squadron, 1st Pursuit Group) – Distinguished Service Cross and also received the Croix de Guerre. He sailed for France in March 1917 and his engagements included: Champagne-Marne offensive, Marne-Aisne, Saint-Mihiel and Meuse-Argonne offensives. His DSC citation reads: “For extraordinary heroism in action near Voubin, France on 15 July 1918. Lt. Thomas J. Abemethy, while on patrol duty attacked an enemy plane at close range, firing 100 rounds at a distance of 200 yards. He followed the Germans ship down and saw it fall out of control and as he turned he found enemy planes diving at him. Without hesitation he took the offensive and fired 200 rounds into the enemy ships at not more than 15 to 20 yards. He observed tracer bullets entering the bodies of the enemy aircraft but owing to the violence of combat he did not have time to observe if any of his foes were shot down. Fighting vigorously, he succeeded in dispersing the enemy shops and making a safe landing within his own lines, although his own engine and plane were almost shot to pieces”. He returned to the US and was discharged from active duty in the middle of 1919. 

1st Lt. Arthur Hadden Alexander US Army (96th Aero Squadron, 1st Day Bombardment) – Distinguished Service Cross He sailed for France in August 1917 and was officially credited with the destruction of one enemy airplane. His DSC citation reads: “For extraordinary heroism in action on 4 September 1918. While on a bombing expedition with other planes from his squadron, Lt. Alexander engaged in a running fight over hostile territory with a superior number of enemy battle planes from Friauville to Lamorville, France. He was seriously wounded in the abdomen by machine gun bullets, and his observer was shot thought the legs. Although weak from pain and loss of blood, Lt. Alexander piloted his plane back to his own airdrome and concealed the fact of his own injury until after his observer had been cared for.” He returned to the US and was discharged from active duty in the February 1919.

1st Lt. Walter Lindsay Avery US Army (95th Aero Squadron, 1st Pursuit Group) – Distinguished Service Cross . He sailed for France in September 1917 and participated in the following engagements: Marne-Aisne offensive, Chateau-Thierry, Saint-Mihiel and Meuse-Argonne offensives. He was initially assigned to French Squadron No. 471 is credited with the destruction of 2 enemy airplanes and one balloon. His DSC citation reads: “For extraordinary heroism in action north of Chateau-Thierry, France on 25 July 1918. While on his first patrol over the enemy’s lines, Lt. Avery attacked an enemy 2 seater biplane. While thus occupied, he was vigorously attacked by another enemy plane but with a quick turn, skilful maneuvering and accurate shooting, he drove the second plane to the American side of the line, where it crashed into the woods. Lt. Avery’s motor had been badly damaged by bullets but he made a successful landing in back or our line, where he learned that the enemy pilot who had been made a prisoner was a German ace credited with 16 victories. Lt. Avery’s conduct was especially commendable because his plane had been seriously damaged at eh beginning of the combat.” Lt. Avery was discharged from active duty in 1919 after his return to the US.

Lt.(j.g.) Charles Chester Bassert Jr.  US Navy (Naval Aviation - Attached to the Northern Bombing Group) – Navy Cross. He originally enlisted and was appointed a sergeant in the US Army (Aviation section, Signal Corps) in May 1917. He was honorably discharged and went to France to join the Lafayette Flying Corps of the French Army by enlisting as a private in the French Foreign Legion. Several months later he was released from the French Army and was commissioned an Ensign in the US Navy (Naval Aviator) and assigned to France to fly with the Royal Air Force. His Navy Cross citation reads: “For distinguished and heroic services as an aviator in an aeroplane engaged in active operations with the Allied Armies on the Belgian Front during September, October and November 1918, bombing enemy bases. Aerodromes, submarine bases, ammunition dumps, railroad junctions etc.” He was released from active duty in mid 1919.

1st Lt. Earl Russell Fretz US Army (12th Machine Gun Battalion, 4th Division) – Distinguished Service Cross . He Sailed for France in May 1918 and was Killed in Action after being mortally wounded on 21 October 1918 and died on 7 November 1918. He participated in the following engagements: Marne-Aisne offensive, Vesle sector, Toulon sector, Saint-Mihiel and Meuse- Argonne offensives. His DSC citation reads: “Distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Stales at Courchamps, France, on 18 July 1918”.

Captain Doug Campbell US Army (94th Aero Squadron) – 5 Distinguished Service Crosses and also received the Croix de Guerre. He sailed for France for the first time in July 1917 and was wounded in June 1918. He participated in many engagements on the Toulon front. He returned to US for recuperation and again returned to France in November 1918. Captain Doug Campbell was the 2nd highest Ace in World War I and officially credited with the destruction of 6 enemy planes. He was in the same squadron as Medal of Honor recipient and top Ace, Captain Eddie Rickenbacker. His DSC citation stated: “For extraordinary heroism in action on 19 May 1918. He attacked an enemy biplane at an altitude of 4,500 meter, east of Flirey, France. H rushed to attack, but after shooting a few rounds his gun jammed. Undeterred by this accident, he maneuvered so as to protect himself, corrected the jam in med air and returned to the assault. After a short, violent action, the enemy plane took fire and crashed to the earth.” In addition, one bronze oak leaf is awarded Lt. Campbell for the additional DSC citation for each of the following acts of heroism in action. On May 17, 1918, he encountered 3 monoplanes at the altitude of 3,000 meters over Montsec, France. Despite superior strength of the enemy, he promptly attacked and fighting a brilliant battle, shot down one German machine, which fell in 3 pieces and drove the others well within enemy lines. On 28 May 1918, he saw 6 German Albatros aeroplanes flying towards him at an altitude of 3,000 meters near Bois Rata, France. Regardless of personal danger he immediately attacked and by skillful maneuvering and accurate operation of his machine gun, he brought one plane down in flames and drove the other 5 back to their own line. On 31 May 1918, he took the offensive against 2 German planes at an altitude of 2,500 meters over Lironvitte, France, shot down one of them and pursued the other far behind German lines. On 5 June 1918, accompanied by another pilot, he attacked 2 enemy battle planes at the altitude of 5,700 meters over Elpy, France. After a spirited combat, he was shot through the back by a machine gun bullet, but in spite of his injury he kept on fighting until he had forced one of the enemy planes to the ground where it was destroyed by artillery fire and had driven the other plane back into its own territory”. He returned to the US in 1919 and was then discharged from active duty.

1st Lt. Lloyd Andrews Hamilton US Army (17th Aero Squadron, A.E.F)  – Distinguished Service Cross and the Distinguished Flying Cross (British). He was Killed in Action and participated in the following engagements: Cambrai, Flanders, Armentieres, Somme defensive and then the Somme offensive. He is an Ace who is officially credited with the destruction of eight enemy airplanes and six balloons. His DSC citation reads: “For extraordinary heroism in action at Varssenaere, Belgium on August 13, 1918. Leading a low bombing attack on a German aerodrome thirty miles behind the lines, he destroyed the hangars on the north side of the aerodrome, and then attacked a row of enemy machines flying as low as twenty feet from the ground, despite intense machine gun fire, and setting fire to three  German planes. He then turned and fired burst through the windows of the chateau in which the German pilots were quartered, twenty-six of whom were afterwards reported killed.” Lt. Hamilton was appointed flight commander and shortly thereafter was killed in action on 24 August 1918 in France.

Captain Frank Angelo MacNamee Jr. US Army (5th Field Artillery, 1st Division) – Distinguished Service Cross . He sailed for France in September 1917 and participated in the following engagements: Chemin des Dames sector, La Heine sector (Seicheprey), Chateau- Thierry; Marne-Aisne, Saint-Mihiel and Meuse-Argonne offensives. His DSC citation reads: “For extraordinary heroism in action in the Belleau Woods, France on 19 July 1918. By his utter disregard of danger, he inspired great confidence in his men during a critical period by three times going into a heavily shelled area to help rescue wounded. He returned to the US and was discharged from active duty in October 1919.

Captain John Mitchell US Army (95th Aero Squadron- Commanding Officer) – Distinguished Service Cross and also awarded the Croix de Guerre. He participated in the following engagements: Toulon front, Chateau-Thierry; Saint-Mihiel and Meuse- Argonne offensives. He is credited with the destruction of one enemy airplane. His DSC citation reads: “For extraordinary heroism in action near Beaumont, France on 27 May 1918. Seeing three enemy planes flying east of Apremant at 2,500 meters, Captain Mitchell unhesitatingly attacked the three machines, which were in close formation, despite the fact that a fourth hovering above threatened to close in and join the enemy formation. He succeeded in shooting down the enemy machine, which proved to be a biplane returning from an important mission”. He returned to the US and released from active duty in February 1919.

Lt.(j.g.) George Thomas Roe US Navy (Naval Aviation -  Attached to the Royal Flying Corps (British)) –  Navy Cross. He originally enlisted and was appointed a sergeant in the US Army (Aviation section, Signal Corps in May 1917). He was discharged from the Army and commissioned an Ensign in the US Navy (Naval Aviator) and sailed overseas in January 1918 where he was assigned to fly with the Royal Air Force. He was shot down and was a prisoner of war from May to December 1918. His Navy Cross citation reads: “For distinguished service and extraordinary heroism as an Aviator attached to the British Royal Air force. Participated in many offensive patrols over the North Sea. On May 30th, 1918, the sea plane in which Ensign Roe was second pilot made a forced landing in the North Sea, owing to engine trouble. While the crew was engaged in making temporary repairs, five enemy sea planes appeared and opened fire. Ensign Roe and his companions heroically returned the fire and continued the fight until two of the crew had been killed and three were knocked overboard. After destroying their machine, the remaining survivors were picked up by the German sea planes and taken to the enemy base at Barken, where they were made prisoners of war.” He was returned to the US in early in 1919 and died on active duty in 1921.

Ensign Albert Dillon Sturtevant US Navy (Navy Aviator- attached to the Royal Naval Air Station in England) – Navy Cross  He sailed for France in September 1917 and was Killed in Action  on 15 February 1918 in seaplane engagement. His citation reads: “For distinguished and heroic service as an aviator attached to the Royal Air Force Station at Felixstowe, England, making a great many offensive patrol flights over the North Sea, and was shot down when engaged gallantly in combat with a number of enemy planes.”

1st Lt. William James R. Taylor US Army (6th Balloon Company) – Distinguished Service Cross he sailed for France in August 1917 and was attached to the 26th Balloon Company of the French Army. He was later transferred to the 6th Balloon Company. He participated in the following engagements: Toulon front, Saint-Mihiel and Meuse- Argonne offensives. His DSC citation reads: “For repeated acts of extraordinary heroism in action near Malancourt and Montfaucon, France from 26 September to 10 0ctober  1918. On September 26th, while conducting an important observation, Lt. Taylor was twice attacked by enemy planes. He would not jump from his balloon because of the valuable work he was doing for the infantry, although he was at all times in danger of losing his life from incendiary bullets. On 3 October near Montfaucon, Lt. Taylor was attacked but refused to leave until his balloon caught fire. Again on 6 October, he was attacked and forced down in his parachute. On 10 October, while he was conducting an important observation, an enemy patrol hovered over his balloon; he refused to jump until attacked at close quarters. His heroic devotion to duty was an inspiration to the officers and men of his company”. He returned to the US and released from active duty in January 1919.

Lt. Walter Heber Wheeler Jr. US Navy (Sub Chaser #94 - Commanding Officer) – Navy Cross and was also awarded the Croix de Guerre. He volunteered as an ambulance driver in the American Field Service from 25 February  to 26 August 1916 and serviced the French Army on the Verdun, Nancy and Pont-a-Mousson fronts. He was commissioned as an Ensign in US Naval Reserve just before the United States entered the war. He was the assigned to Patrol Boat Talofa as commanding officer and later assigned to Submarine Chaser No. 2 as commanding officer before taking command of the Submarine Chaser No. 94. His Navy Cross citation reads: “Far distinguished service in the line of his profession as Commanding Officer of the U.S.S.C. 94, engaged in the important, exacting and hazardous duty of patrolling the waters of the War Zone, and operating against enemy submarines"

1918
1st Lt. Joseph Richard Busk US Army (38th Infantry, 3rd Division) – Distinguished Service Cross. He sailed for France in April 1918 and  participated in the following engagements: Aisne defensive and Chateau-Thierry. His DSC citation reads: “For extraordinary heroism in action east of Chateau-Thierry, France on 17 June 1918. Despite the coldness of the water, the swiftness of the current and the presence of the enemy on the opposite side bank, Lt. Busk complete a personal reconnaissance of the enemy’s position by swimming the River Marne, after which he tool a patrol across the river in boats, and obtained valuable information regarding the movements of the enemy. Lt. Busk then encountered an enemy detachment which fired on his patrol and severely wounded him.” He was then invalided to the US in 1918 and discharged from active duty the following year due to his incapacity incident to service.

Captain John Merryman Franklin US Army (301st Battalion [Heavy] Tank Corps ) – Military Cross (British). He sailed for England in March 1918 and then to France in August 1918 where he was brigaded at the front with the British Army. He participated in the following engagements: Somme offensive 1918, Saint-Quentin Canal, Ronssoy, Bony, Bellicourt, Jon-court, Montbrehain, Bohain, Beaurevpir, Brancourt-leGrand, Saint-Souplet, Saint- Martin-Riviere, Selle River, Mormal Forest, Le Quesnoy, Valenciennes). His Military Cross citation reads: "For gallantry and devotion to duty during the attack upon the canal from Le Catelet to Bellicourt on 29 September 1918. He accompanied the tanks of his company on foot, through machine gun and artillery fire while ahead of the Infantry. His intensity of purpose and complete disregard for personal danger enabled the tanks under his command to carry out their mission. He succeeded in sending to the rear mast valuable information on the progress of the tanks. During all engagements of the Battalion, he has displayed remarkable energy and inspired all ranks of his company." He returned to the US and discharged from active duty in mid 1919.

1st Lt. Duncan Fraser US Army  (16th Infantry, 1st Division) – Distinguished Service Cross. He was also awarded the Croix de Guerre. He sailed for France in January 1918 and was wounded in July 1918. His participated in the following engagements: Cantigny, Noyon-Montdidier defensive, Marne-Aisne offensive. His DSC citation reads: “For extraordinary heroism in action near Soissons 18 July 1918. With four men, Lt. Fraser captured a machine- gun nest, which was delivering an annihilating fire upon his company and holding up its advance." He returned to the US and discharged from active duty in June 1919.

Sergeant Hugh Budington Griffiths US Army (107th Infantry, 27th Division) – Military Medal (British). He sailed for France in May 1918 and  participated in the following engagements: Mont Kemmel sector, Yprcs-Lys offensive (Dickebusch sector), Somme offensive (Bony and Saint-Souplet). His Military Medal citation reads: “During the operation against the Hindenburg Line near Vendhuile, France on 29 September 1918.  Private Griffiths, under a heavy machine gun and shell fire, voluntarily attempted to establish liaison with another part of the command. He also discovered and helped to defeat two flanking movements of the enemy by heroically exposing himself to constant fire. He exhibited contempt for danger with personal courage and great bravery of the highest type, which was a splendid example for his comrades." He returned to the US and was discharged from active duty in early 1919.

1st Lt. Alfred Wild Gardner US Army (305th Infantry, 77th Division) – Distinguished Service Cross  He sailed for France in April 1918 and his combat engagements included: Baccarat sector, Aisne-Oise and Meuse-Argonne offensives. He was Killed in Action on 3 October 1918. His citation reads: “For extraordinary heroism in action the Argonne Forest. France on 3 October 1918. Attacking enemy machine gun nests, he displayed the highest courage when he led his company up a steep slope in the face of murderous fire. Before he could accomplish his objective, he was killed.”

Lt.(j.g.) Alfred Gardner US Navy (Naval Aviation) –  Navy Cross  He sailed overseas on October 1917 and was attached to the Royal Naval Air station in Cranwell, England.  His citation reads: “For distinguished service in the line of his profession as Commanding Officer of a dirigible engaged in patrol and convoy flights in the War zone, in which operations he did exceptional work, pushing his flights to the limit of physical and material endurance and upon one occasion broke all records for the length of flight for this type of aircraft”. He returned to the US and was discharged from active duty after the end of the war in late1918.

Captain Clifford West Henry US Army (102nd Infantry, 26th Division) – Distinguished Service Cross  and the Croix de Guerre  He sailed for France on July 1918 and was Killed in Action due to wounds suffered in the Verdun (St. Miheil) from which he  died on 17 October 1918. At the time, he was engaged to Margaret Mitchell, author of “Gone with the Wind”. His citation reads: “For extraordinary heroism on 14 September 1918. During the Saint-Mihiel offensive, although mortally wounded and suffering great pain, he gave information for the disposition of his men. He refused first aid until other wounded men had been taken care of”.

Captain James Knowles Jr. US Army  (95th Aero Squadron, 1st Pursuit Group) – Distinguished Service Cross. He sailed for France on July 1917 where his combat engagements included: Toulon front, Chateau-Thierry; Saint-Mihiel and Meuse-Argonne offensives. He was an Ace and officially credited with the destruction of five enemy airplanes. His DSC citation reads: “For extraordinary heroism in action near Montfaucon, France on 9 October1918. While on a voluntary patrol over the enemy's lines Lt. Knowles observed three enemy Fokkers attacking one of our balloons. He unhesitatingly attacked and in a bitter combat that lasted for five minutes and he succeeded in bringing down one of the enemy planes in flames and driving off the others.” He returned to the US and was released from active duty in June 1919.

Captain John Holme Lambert US Army (91st Aero Squadron) – Distinguished Service Cross . He was an ambulance driver in the American Field Service with French Army on Verdun and Champagne fronts from 19 March to 14 August 1917. While in France, he enlisted in the Aviation Section of the US Army Signal Corps and was later commissioned 1st Lt. in December 1917 and attached to 91st Aero Squadron. He is officially credited with the destruction of three enemy airplanes. His DSC citation reads: “Far extraordinary heroism in action near Stenay, France on 30 October 1918. While on a photographic mission in the vicinity of Stenay, his work being seriously interfered with by the fire of a formation of enemy planes, he temporarily discontinued his mission, attacked the formation and dispersed it, destroying one plane and seriously damaging another. He then returned to his objective, completed his mission, and returned with information of great military value.”

Lt. Moseley Taylor US Navy (Naval Aviation - Attached to the Northern Bombing Group) –  Navy Cross. He was commissioned as an ensign in the US Naval Reserve in October 1917 and sailed for France the following month where he was assigned to US Naval Air Station, Dunkerque, France. He was then transferred to Night Bombing School in Stonehenge, England and a few weeks later  detailed to 214th Squadron. Royal Air Force (British), Northern Bombing Group in France. His Navy Cross citation reads: “For distinguished and heroic service as an aviator in an aeroplane engaged in active operations operating with the Allied Armies on the Belgian Front during September, October, and November, 1918, bombing enemy bases, aerodromes, submarine bases, ammunition dumps, railroads, etc. Attached to Northern Bombing Group.” He then returned to the United States in December 1918 and served as flight instructor until he was released from active duty in January 1919

1stLt. Clark Olds Tayntor US Army  (47th Infantry, 4th Division) – Distinguished Service Cross. He participated in the Marne-Aisne offensive (Serg). He was designated regimental judge advocate and sailed for France on 10 May 1918. On 29 July, he was wounded and transferred to Headquarters of the 89th Division. His DSC citation reads: “For extraordinary heroism in action at Sergy, France 29 & 30 July 1918. Disregarding two wounds from shell fire, which he had suffered, Lt. Tayntor continued in the advance with his platoon, keeping his men well organized, directing the consolidation of the line throughout the night and refusing medical attention until all the wounded men in his platoon had received treatment” He then returned to the United States in November 1919 and discharged from active duty in February 1920.

1st Lt. Chester Ellis Wright US Army (93d Aero Squadron, 3d Pursuit Group) – Distinguished Service Cross and also received the Croix de Guerre. He sailed for France in November 1917, His combat engagements included: Toulon front,-Marne offensive, Saint-Mihiel and Meuse-Argonne offensives. He was an aviation Ace and officially credited with the destruction of eight enemy air planes and one balloon His DSC citation reads: “For extraordinary heroism in action near Beffu, France on 10 October 1918. He attacked an enemy observation balloon protected by four enemy planes and despite numerical superiority he forced the planes to withdraw and destroyed the enemy balloon." The citation for his 2nd DSC reads: "A bronze oak leaf for extraordinary heroism in action near Bantheville, France on 23 October 1918. Accompanied by one other machine, he attacked and sent down in flames an enemy plane (Fokker type) that was attacking an allied plane. He was in turn attacked by three enemy plants. His companion was forced to withdraw on account of motor trouble. He continued the combat and succeeded in bringing down one of the enemy planes and forced the remaining two into their own territory”. He returned to the US and was discharged from active duty in the middle of 1919. 

1919
Lt.(j.g.) Addison Center Burnham Jr. US Navy (Naval Aviation) –  Navy Cross He sailed overseas in August 1917. His Navy Cross citation reads: “For distinguished service in the line of his profession as Commanding Officer of a dirigible engaged in patrol and convoy flights in the War zone, in which operations he did exceptional work, pushing his flights to the limit of physical and material endurance.” He returned to the US and was released from active duty early in 1919.

Captain Hamilton Collidge US Army (Aero Squadron) – Distinguished Service Cross and designated an Ace with the official credited destruction of 5 enemy airplanes and 3 balloons. He participated in the following engagements: Marne-Aisne offensive, Champaigne –Marne defensive, Vesle sector, Toulon,  St. Mihiel offensive (Verdun) and the  Meuse- Argonne offensive. As noted by General Pershing in Captain Collidge’s DSC citation. “For extraordinary heroism in action near Grandpre, France on 27 October 1918. Leading a protection patrol, Captain Collidge went to the assistance of 2 observer planes which was being attacked by 6 German machines. Observing this maneuver, the enemy sent up a terrific barrage of anti aircraft guns on the ground. Disregarding the extreme danger, Captain Coolidge dived straight into the barrage and his plane was struck and sent down in flames”. He returned to the US and was released from active duty early in 1919.

Lt.(j.g.) William Gaston US Navy (Naval Aviation - Attached to the Northern Bombing Group) –  Navy Cross. After going overseas in March 1918, he temporary had duty with the Royal Naval Air Force in Hornsea, England before being transferred to Royal Naval Air Force School of Navigation and Bomb Dropping at Stonehenge. He was temporarily as an instructor before being transferred to US Northern Bombing Squadron in France and later served  with US Air Service in Milan, Italy and then the Royal Air Force Squadron No. 214. His Navy Cross citation reads: “For distinguished and heroic service as an aviator in an aeroplane in active operation cooperating with the Allied Armies on the Belgian Front during September, October and November, 1918, bombing enemy bases, aerodromes, submarine bases, ammunition dumps, railroad junctions etc., attached to Northern Bombing Group” He was released from active duty in early 1919.

Lt.(j.g.) Charles Edward Hodges Jr. US Navy (5th Squadron, US Marine Corps) –  Navy Cross. After going overseas in March 1918, he initially was at  US Naval Air Station, Moutchic, France and  detailed to US Army Bombing School in Clermont-Ferrand. He then was attached to Royal Air Force (218th Squadron) in Hornsea, England and then transferred to Royal Naval Air Force School of Navigation and Bomb Dropping at Stonehenge. He was later transferred to 5th Squadron, US Marine Corps, US Naval Region Base, in Eastleigh, England. His Navy Cross citation reads: “For distinguished and heroic service as an aviator in an aeroplane engaged in active operations cooperating with the Allied Armies on the Belgian Front during September, October, and November 1918, bombing enemy bases, aerodromes, submarine bases, ammunition dumps, railroad junctions, etc. Attached to Northern Bombing Group” He was released from active duty in December of 1919.

1st Lt. Quintin Roosevelt US Army  (95th Aero Squadron, 1st Pursuit Group) – He sailed for France on July 1917 where his combat engagements included: Toulon sector, Marne-Aisne sector. He was officially credited with the destruction of one enemy airplane but Killed in Action in 14 July 1918 and was buried by the Germans with full military honors. He was the third son of President Theodore Roosevelt who served on the Western Front during World War I (i.e. his brothers were Kermit noted above and Theodore II who was a brigadier general in World War II when he earned the Medal of Honor as the senior flag office on the Omaha beach on “D day”, 6th of June 1944).

Chester Wright (rank unknown) US Army (unit unknown) – 2 Distinguished Service Crosses during World War II.

1920
1st Lt. Francis Reed Austin US Army (105th Infantry) – Distinguished Service Cross . He sailed to France in April 1918 as a sergeant and was later promoted to 2nd Lt. He was Killed in Action on the last day of the war. He participated in the following engagements: Aisne-Oise and  Meuse-Argonne offensives defensive. His DSC citation reads: “For extraordinary heroism in action east of Haumoni, France on 11 November 1918. He led a platoon of machine guns and two one-pounder guns with their crews under cover of fog within the enemy’s wire and attacked at close range a strong point held by 25 men and 10 machine guns. After this position had been reduced, concentrated machine-gun fire from the ranks forced Lt. Austin and his party to withdraw. Exposing himself in order to place his men under cover, he was mortally wounded but he directed the dressing of the wounds of his men and their evacuation before he would accept any aid for himself. He died a few hours later.”

Major Melvin Holmes Leonard US Army (166th  Infantry, 42nd  Division) – Distinguished Service Cross and  also awarded the Croix de Guerre. He sailed for France in September 1917 and participated in the following engagements: Sommedieue sector, Aisne defensive, Chateau-Thierry (Vaux), Marne- Aisne offensive (Soissons) and the Saint-Mihiel offensive. He was wounded and returned to the US in July 1918. His DSC citation reads: “For extraordinary heroism in action near Soissons, France on 18  July 1918. Although impeded by a very painful wound. Lt. Leonard continued to lead his command, through a first and second attack on the enemy, though barely able to walk. Upon gaining his objective, he supervised the consolidation of the position under severe shell fire and remained until his company was relieved." He continued to serve until released from active duty in November 1918.

1st Lt. Alexander Farnum Lippit US Army (9th Infantry, 2nd Division) – Distinguished Service Cross and also awarded the Croix de Guerre. He sailed for France in January 1918 and was Killed in Action 5 months later. He participated in the following engagements: Sommedieue sector, Aisne defensive, Chateau-Thierry (Vaux), Marne- Aisne offensive (Soissons) and the Saint-Mihiel offensive. He was wounded and returned to the US where he died in October 1918. His DSC citation reads: “For extraordinary heroism in action in the Champaigne sector north of Chalons, France on 15 July 1918. During a powerful enemy attack 1st Lt. Lippitt led his platoon through heavy artillery and machine gun fire in a counterattack against the enemy which had gained a foothold in our line. The enemy was repulsed and the line reestablished. He assisted in the reorganization and defense of the position against two enemy assaults. The gallantry of this officer was a great aid to his command at a lime of unusual danger. He was killed a few days later while advancing to an attack."

1st Lt. David Putnam US Army  (139th Pursuit Squadron) – Distinguished Service Cross.  Descendent of General Israel Putnam who fought in the American Army during the Revolutionary War. He enlisted in the French Foreign Legion as a private in May 1917 and was transferred to Military Aviation School as a brevetted pilot. He was promoted to sergeant and was honorably discharged in June 14, 1918 and commissioned in the US Army Military Aeronautics as a 1st Lt. in the same month. Two months later he was Killed in Action. His combat engagements in the US Army included: Champagne front and Toulon sector. His DSC citation reads: “For extraordinary heroism in action near La Chaussee, France on 12 September 1918. After destroying one of the 8 German planes which had attacked him, he was turning to our lines when he saw 7 Fokkers attack an allied biplane. He attacked the Germans and saved the biplane but was himself driven down, shot through the heart.”
Captain Sumner Sewall US Army (Aero Squadron) – 2 Distinguished Service Crosses He was also awarded the the Legion d’Honneur , the Croix de Guerre and the Order of the Crown of Belgium. Capt. Sewall served in the American Ambulance Field Service, then in the U.S. Army Signal Corps as a fighter pilot. He  was an ace with seven official kills. After the war, he worked in a variety of jobs, including being an executive with Colonial Air Transport and a director of United Air Lines. In 1940, he was elected governor of Maine and served two terms. Sewall's administration was notable for cleaning up scandals in state government and passing a minimum wage law for state teachers.After stepping down as governor, Sewall became president of American Overseas Airlines for a year, then served as the military governor of Württemberg-Baden from 1946 to 1947.

1921
Major Ralph Ernest Henderson US Army (14th Engineers- Railway and later attached to the British Expeditionary Forces) – Distinguished Service Order (British). He sailed to France in July 1917 and participated in the following engagements: Arras-Bapaume (1917), the Somme defensive and Meuse-Argonne offensives in 1918. He returned to the US and was discharged from active duty in the middle of 1919

1938
Lt. Joseph Kennedy US Navy – Navy Cross. Educated at Choate Hall before entering Harvard where he played football, rugby and crew. He spent a year of graduate school at the London School of Economics before entering Harvard Law School. Before his final year of Law school, he was accepted at Navy OCS and then went to flight school. He earned his wings of gold as a Naval Aviator. He participated in 25 combat missions before volunteering for a very dangerous mission of piloting a plane filled with explosives before parachuting out after putting the plane on course to crash into a high value Nazi target. Unfortunately, the plane exploded on 12 August 1944 while still over England with Lt. Kennedy still on board.

1947
Private John Pribram US Army (63rd Division) – Silver Star  as well as the Purple Heart. His DSC citation reads: “For gallantry in action on January 24, 1945, in the vicinity of Bennwihr, France, with utter disregard for his personal safety. Pfc. John G. Priram entered a known schu- mine field rendering aid to wounded men. Exhibiting great courage and bravery and acting under heavy rifle, machine pistol, machine gun, mortar and artillery fire, he continued to render aid to the wounded until he sustained the loss of a foot due to a schu- machine explosion”.  Private Pribram was a native of Czechoslovakia and came to the United States a refuge in 1940.

Sergeant Merrill Feldman US Army  (377th Infantry division) – Silver Star as well as the Bronze Star and 2 Purple Hearts. Sgt. Feldman’s platoon sergeant was wounded during a marching fire advance. Feldman immediately administered first aid under direct hostile observation and small arms fire. In addition Feldman continued across a large coverless area to treat another soldier. In this endeavor, Feldman was painfully wounded but refused evacuation and gallantry continued to administer first aid to his comrades for over 5 hours before being evacuated. Sgt. Feldman was originally from Dorchester and an  Army medic that eventually became a dentist after graduating from Harvard.

2. HARVARD   LAW   SCHOOL  by CLASS
1907
Major Laurence Hawley Watres US Army – (108th Machine Gun Battalion, 28th Division) Distinguished Service Cross He sailed for France in May 1918 and was wounded in September 1918. He participated in the following engagements: Champagne-Marne defensive, Marne-Aisne and Aisne-Oise offensives. His DSC citation notes . “For extraordinary heroism near Baslieux, France on 5  September 1918, when, under heavy enemy machine gun fire, he took command of Company D, 109th Infantry, which was without officers, and was greatly disorganized in a position to his rear. He led the company together with some of his own men to the attack, killing a number of the enemy, taking others prisoners, and capturing several machine gun nests.” He returned to the United States and was released from active duty in May of 1919.

1912
1st Lt. Alan Rogers US Army (307th Infantry, 77th Division) – Distinguished Service Cross He was wounded in October 1918 and invalided to the US in February 1919. He participated in the following engagements: Aisne-Oise offensive (Vesle River) and Meuse-Argonne offensive. His DSC citation reads: " For extraordinary heroism in action near La Pallette Pavilion, France on 4 October1918. Having taken command of his company after the company commander and second in command had been wounded, Lieutenant Rogers personally undertook a reconnaissance of the front line. Crawling forward alone under intense rifle and machine gun fire for two hundred yards, to within thirty yards of an enemy machine gun nest, he was seriously wounded in the knee, but, applying a tourniquet to his leg, he succeeded in crawling back to his company. Here he resumed command, and though suffering intense pain, gave instructions for repelling an expected counterattack, directing that no man be taken from the firing line to carry him to the rear. For seven hours after being wounded he remained with his command, inspiring his men by his fortitude and courage”.He was discharged from active duty in October 1919.

1914
Major Charles Biddle US Army (13th Aero Squadron, 4th Pursuit Group – Commanding officer) – Distinguished Service Cross  awarded for heroism in the World War I. He received his undergraduate degree from Princeton .He was a lawyer in Pennsylvania before joining the French Foreign Legion in April 1917. He was later transferred to the French Air Service before being commissioned as a captain in the US Army in January 1918. His combat engagements were: Flanders offensive 1917 (Passchendaele), Aisne (Chemin des Dames) and Champagne fronts, Flanders defensive 1918 (Mont Kemmel), Saint-Mihiel and Meuse-Argonne offensives. He was wounded near Dunqueque in May 1918 but returned to flying status in June 1918. Major Biddle is an Ace credited with the destruction of 8 enemy aeroplanes. His DSC citation reads: “For extraordinary heroism in action in the region of Damvillers, France on 26  September 1918. During an engagement between 11 Spads and 12 enemy Fokkers, Captain Biddle , perceiving his comrade in distress from the attack of two plane, dived upon them and by his fire forced them to withdraw. His prompt action saved the life of his comrade, who was in imminent danger of being shot down”. He returned to the US and was discharged from active duty in 1919 and died in 1972.
Major Van Santvoord Merle-Smith US Army (69th Infantry) – Distinguished Service Cross  He sailed for France in November 1917 and was wounded  in 17 March, and 25 & 28 July 1918. He participated in the following engagements: Luneville sector, Baccarat sector, Champaigne-Marne defensive (Souain, Esperance), Marne-Aisne offensive, Saint-Mihiel offensive (Essey, Pannes) and the Meuse- Argonne offensive. His DSC citation reads: “He was in command of a company at the crossing of the River Ourcq, near Villers sur Frere, France, on 28 July 1918. Despite the loss of all the other officers in his company, and although wounded himself, he continued to direct his men effectively against the enemy. When his major was killed he succeeded to the command of the battalion and led it forward throughout the day with courage and gallantry." He returned to the US and was discharged from active duty in May 1919

1915
Captain Thomas Jean Hargrave US Army (309th Infantry, 78th Division) – Distinguished Service Cross and also awarded the Croix de Guerre. He sailed for France in May 1918 and participated in the following engagements: Saint-Mihiel offensive and Meuse-Argonne offensive (Grandpre). His DSC citation reads: "For extraordinary heroism in action near Grandpre, France on 18 October 1918. Lieutenant Hargrove personally made a reconnaissance of the entire front of the battalion to which he was attached, under heavy machine gun and shell fire, and he returned with very valuable information. In order to deliver his information in the shortest possible time, he returned through an open field subjected to an enemy fire. This officer later rendered valuable assistance in repelling counterattacks by his coolness and intelligent direction of the company."  He returned to United States and was discharged in June 1919.
Major Robert Porter Patterson US Army  (306th Infantry, 77th Division) – Distinguished Service Cross. He participated in the following engagements: Baccarat sector, Aisne-Oise and Meuse- Argonne offensives. His DSC citation reads: “For extraordinary heroism in action near Bazoches, France on 14 August 1918. Major Patterson, then a captain, accompanied by two non-commissioned officers, made a daring daylight reconnaissance into the enemy lines. He surprised an enemy outpost of superior numbers and personally destroyed the outpost. Later he again had an encounter with another outpost during which several of the enemy were killed or wounded and one member of his patrol wounded. The enemy advanced their outposts and Captain Patterson covered the retreat of his patrol, during which he dropped into a depression and feigned being killed in order to escape capture. Here he lay until he was able to escape to his lines under cover of darkness" He returned to the US and was discharged from active duty in May 1919

1917
Major Benjamin Porter Harwood US Army (12th Aero Squadron, A.E.F.) – Distinguished Service Cross and also awarded the Croix de Guerre. He sailed for France in September 1917 and was detailed to French observation squadrons. He transferred to the 12th Aero Squadron in May 1918 and was wounded a few months later. He was reassigned to several other units after he recovered. He participated in the following engagements: Champagne-Marne defensive, Marne-Aisne, Saint-Mihiel and Meuse- Argonne offensives. His DSC citation reads: "For extraordinary heroism in action near Chateau-Thierry, France on 5 July 1918. Lieutenant Harwood volunteered with another plane to protect a photographic plane. In the course of their mission they were attacked by seven enemy planes (Fokker type). Lieutenant Harwood accepted the combat and kept the enemy engaged while the photographic plane completed its mission. His guns jammed and he himself was seriously wounded. After skillfully clearing his guns, with his plane badly damaged, he fought off the hostile planes and enabled the photographic plane to return' to our lines with valuable information." He returned to United States and was discharged in July 1919.

Lt. William Rufus Redden US Navy [Medical Corps] (Naval Hospital - Chelsea, MA). –  Navy Cross  His Navy Cross citation reads: “For distinguished service in the line of his profession while serving at the US Naval Hospital, Chelsea, Mass., in developing a convalescent influenza pneumonia serum, which has proven of very great value in reducing mortality from 38% to 4%, and for general service at the hospital". He was discharged from active duty in April 1919.

1921
1st Lt. Donald G. Graham US Army (Acceptance & Testing Dept. HQ Air Service , AEF, Paris) – Distinguished Service Cross for heroism in the World War I and the Silver Star Medal for World War II. He returned to US and discharged in 1919 and became a US District Attorney in Seattle, Washington and later senior partner of the largest law firms in the state. During World War II, He rejoined the US Army Air Corps and trained an air wing and took it to England. He later served on the Staff of General Curtis LeMay.

1st Lt. Howard Clayton Knotts US Army  (17th Pursuit Squadron) – Distinguished Service Cross. He initially trained in Canada with the Royal Flying Corps ( British). After commissioning in the US Army (Aviation Section, SignalCorp)  he sailed for France with the 182nd Aero Squadron.. In the 17th Pursuit Squadron, he was attached to the 13th Wing of Royal Air Force. He was wounded in August 1918 and again in October 1918 when he was then taken as a prisoner of by the Germans.  He participated in the following engagements: Flanders, Cambrai and the Somme offensives  He is officially credited with the destruction of eight enemy airplanes. His DSC citation reads: “For extraordinary heroism in action near Arleux, France on 17  September 1918. During a patrol flight five American planes were attacked by twenty enemy Fokkers. During the combat, when Lt. Knotts saw one of his comrades attacked by seven enemy planes and in imminent danger of being shot down, he, although himself engaged with the enemy, went to the assistance of his comrade and attacked two of his immediate pursuers. In the fight which ensued he shot one of the enemy down in flames and forced the other out of control. His prompt act enabled his comrade to escape destruction, although his comrade's plane was so disabled that he made the allied lines with difficulty, crashing as he landed”. His DFC citation reads: "In August  1918,  he shot down from two thousand feet, over the Bapaume-Cambrai Road, one Fokker biplane. On 13 September 1918, he shot down from four thousand feet, near Inchyen- Artois, northeast of Bapaume, one Fokker biplane. On 17 September 1918, with Lieutenant William T. Clements, he shot down from four thousand feet, near Arleux, a Fokker biplane. On22  September 1918,  he shot down from six thousand feet, near Marquion (east by south of Arras), a Fokker biplane. On 24 September 1918,  he shot down from six thousand feet, just north of Bourlon Wood, two Fokker biplanes,  while flying alone on the afternoon of the same date, trying to confirm arid locate an enemy aeroplane shot down by Lt. Campbell in the forenoon, he saw a detachment of enemy troops on the Bapaume-Cambrai Road and at once attacked them; as he dived upon them he noticed at the side of the road past which the troops were marching a large ammunition dump, into which he fired incendiary tracer bullets which started several fires and in a few moments the dump blew up. The explosion was seen by many pilots who were in the air at that time, and by observers on the ground some fifteen miles away. On 18 October 1918, having completed a low bombing attack on enemy troops in Awoingt on which his flight had been sent out, Lt. Knotts saw a closed German staff car passing along the road through the villages of Naves. Of his own accord and although subjected to heavy machine-gun fire from nests along the road, he followed and attacked the car from just above the tree tops as it rushed through the village until it left the road and turned over. He then noticed two enemy officers roll out of the car, one of whom lay where he fell, and returning shot the other officer who had started to run away. Lt.  Knotts' flying showed the greatest disregard of danger, and over and over again he did not hesitate to fly very low in spite of the fire from the ground, thereby bringing back valuable reconnaissance material and seriously harassing the enemy's movements during their retreat. Whilst so flying on 4 October 1918, his engine was put out of action by ground fire, east of Saulzoir, and he was made a prisoner. Whilst a prisoner in Germany he was subjected to great exposure and his physical condition has been such that he has been in hospital ever since his return." He returned to the US in December 1918 and was discharged in April 1919.

3. HARVARD   BUSINESS   SCHOOL  by CLASS
1948 (AMP)
General John Gerhart USAF  (last position before retiring, North American Defense Command; Commander) – 3 Silver Stars  awarded for heroism in the World War II. He went to England in 1942 with the first contingent of the 8th Air Force and was later commander of the 93rd Combat Bomb Wing. His other military awards include:  Distinguished Flying Cross, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, Air Medal with 2 oak clusters, French Croix de Guerre, Belgium Croix de Guerre with Palm.

1968 (AMP)
Brigadier General Robert F. Titus USAF (last position before retiring, North American Defense Command; Inspector General) – Air Force Cross  awarded for heroism in the Korea. His other military awards include:  Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross with 3 oak leaf clusters, Bronze Star, Air Medal with 24 oak clusters and the Air Force Commendation Medal.

4. HARVARD   JOHN  F.  KENNEDY   SCHOOL  by CLASS
1947
Major General Robert Ginsburgh US Air Force  (last position before retiring- Deputy Director of JCS) – Silver Star for heroism during World War II. He was an Artillery and then Infantry officer in the Army before transferring to the USAF. His other military awards include:  Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal, and Purple Hear. General Ginsburgh was admitted to Harvard College after graduating for Phillips Academy in 1940. After his freshman year, he transferred to the US Military Academy at West Point.

5. HARVARD   MEDICAL   SCHOOL  by CLASS
1896
Commander Dudley Newcomb Carpenter US Navy  (Medical Corps- Naval Base Hospital # 4 – Commanding Officer) – Navy Cross. He sailed for overseas in April 1918. His Navy Cross citation reads: “For distinguished service in line of his profession in establishing and maintaining Naval Base Hospital in Queenstown, Ireland”. He returned to the US and released form active duty in early 1919.

Captain George Franklin Freeman US Navy  (Medical Corps- Naval Base Hospital # 5 in France – Commanding Officer) – Navy Cross. He sailed for overseas in September 1918.His Navy Cross citation reads: “For distinguished service in line of his profession in charge of the Navy Base Hospital at Brest, France, and as Force Medical Officer on the Staff of the Commander, U.S. Naval Forces in France.". He returned to the US in early 1919 and was released from active duty in early 1921

1906
Lt. Cdr. Cornelius Henry Mack, US Navy (DC) (6th Regiment, US Marine Corps, 2d Division) –  Navy Cross  and was also awarded the Croix de Guerre. He was a dentist and sailed for France in October 1917. His engagements included: Somme-dieue sector, Aisne defensive, Marne- Aisne, Saint-Mihiel and Meuse-Argonne offensives. His Navy Cross citation reads: “For extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty, with the 6th Regiment, US Marines. In the action at the Bois de Belleau on 12 June1918, when his dressing station was subjected to a heavy gas bombardment, he remained on duty and carried on the evacuation of wounded, refusing to leave until all wounded and hospital corpsmen had been removed to a place of safety; as a result he was severely gassed. In the action at Vierzy, on 19 July 1918, he accompanied the advance and was exposed for fifteen hours to the fire of machine guns and artillery, performing his duties with marked coolness and precision..” He returned to the US in 1919 and was released from active duty in 1921.

6. HARVARD   FACULTY
Lt. Col. James Andrew Shannon US Army (112th Infantry, 28th Division) – Distinguished Service Cross He was also awarded the Legion d’Honneur and the Croix de Guerre. He was Killed in Action after being wounded October 7 at Chateau-Thierry and died of wounds the next day. He was a member of Harvard Faculty as the commandant of the Harvard Reserve Officers' Training Corps in June 1917. He then sailed for France in October 1917 He participated in the Meuse- Argonne offensives. His DSC citation reads: " For extraordinary heroism in action near Chateau-Thierry France on 5 & 6 October1918, Lt. Colonel Shannon voluntarily led an officers' patrol to a depth of three kilometers within the enemy lines. As a result of his exceptional bravery and skill in leading this patrol in its contact with the enemy, vital information was obtained at a critical period of the battle, to which much of the success of the next few days was due. The information thus secured was followed up by an attack the next morning, which this officer personally led and wherein he was fatally wounded. His superb leadership and personal courage furnished the necessary inspiration to an exhausted command." The former ROTC building at Harvard, Shannon Hall, was named in his honor.

Sources: “Harvard Military Record in the World War” by Fredrick Sumner Mead by Harvard University Press – 28 June 1921.