Perry County AlArchives Military Records.....Spessard, Rutherford H. 1918
WWI 58th Infantry, 4th Division
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Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com December 18, 2007, 9:16 pm

Distinguished Service Cross Citation
  Rutherford H. Spessard, major, 58th Infantry, 4th Division. For extraordinary
heroism in action near Ville-Savoy, France, August 6, and near Bois-du-Fays,
France, October 2, 1918. During the crossing of the Vesle River Maj. Rutherford
H. Spessard (then captain), when his battalion commander was killed, immediately
assumed command of the battalion without orders and led them across the Vesle
River against strongly fortified enemy positions, displaying absolute disregard
for his personal danger. On October 2, in the vicinity of the Bois-du-Fays, Maj.
Spessard exposed himself to intense enemy artillery and machine-gun fire while
making observations and directing the movement of his men. He established his
battalion headquarters a short distance to the rear of his lines in a position
continually subjected to severe enemy artillery fire. Residence at appointment:
Marion, Ala.

Additional Comments:

Extracted from:

CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR
THE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS
AND THE
DISTINGUISHED SERVICE MEDAL
ISSUED BY THE WAR DEPARTMENT
Since April 6, 1917
Up to and including
General Orders, No. 126, War Department, November 11, 1919

COMPILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE ADJUTANT GENERAL OF THE ARMY
WASHINGTON
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE
1920


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