Distinguished Service Cross Citations, WWI, Arkansas *********************************************************** Submitted by: Joy Fisher < > Date: 22 Dec 2007 Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm *********************************************************** 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 ARKANSAS. Earl Almon, captain, 16th Infantry. For extraordinary heroism in action near Fleville, France, October 4, 1918. After the battalion commander and all the company officers had been killed or wounded, Capt. Almon (then first lieutenant), battalion adjutant, took command, and although wounded by high-explosive fire, reorganized the battalion under violent artillery and machine-gun fire and continued the advance. Although twice counterattacked, he reached and held his objective. Address: Care of The Adjutant General of the Army, Washington, D. C. Residence at appointment: Warm Springs, Ark. Earl Billingsley, sergeant, Company H, 61st Infantry. For extraordinary heroism in action near Dun-sur-Meuse, France, November 5, 1918. He voluntarily went forward alone against an enemy machine-gun nest, which was holding up the advance of his line, wounding and capturing one prisoner and putting the remaining occupant to flight. Residence at enlistment: Baupite, Ark. John Bobo, sergeant, Company E, 16th Infantry. For extraordinary heroism in action near Soissons, France, July 18-19, 1918. When his company's advance was seriously threatened by the terrific fire from a machine-gun nest, Sergt. Bobo personally killed the machine-gun crew and captured the gun. Later, in the same action, he led a party of two squads against an enemy strong point, capturing 2 officers, 125 men, and 12 machine guns that were delivering a sweeping fire, threatening the success of the entire operation. He was killed shortly after the completion of this extraordinary feat. Residence at enlistment: Bonanzo, Ark. Ernest V. Bollinger, private, Company F, 28th Infantry. For extraordinary heroism in action near Soissons, France, July 19, 1918. He advanced on machine-gun snipers on the Paris-Soissons road, showing exceptional bravery by reaching the machine gun and killing the snipers with hand grenades and automatic rifle. Residence at enlistment: 1421 West Fourth Street, Little Rock, Ark. William Bryson, private, Company I, 315th Infantry. For extraordinary heroism in action near Verdun, France, November 7, 1918. He volunteered to-reconnoiter an enemy trench to determine its exact location and to ascertain whether or not it was protected by wire. His mission was accomplished under heavy fire, and the information he obtained proved of the greatest assistance and value. Residence at enlistment: Decatur, Ark. Herman Davis, private, Company I, 113th Infantry. For extraordinary heroism in action at Molleville Farm, France, October 10, 1918. On duty as a company runner, he was accompanying the left assault platoon of his company during the advance through the woods, when it was fired on by an enemy machine gun. As soon as the gun opened fire the members of the platoon scattered and attempted to flank the gun, but Pvt. Davis pushed on ahead, being the first to reach the nest, attacked it single-handed, and killed the four enemy gunners. His gallant act enabled his platoon to continue the advance. Residence at enlistment: Big Lake, Ark. Paul S. Edwards, first lieutenant, Signal Corps, attached to 304th Brigade, Tank Corps. For extraordinary heroism in action near Cheppy, France, September 26, 1918. During the attack on Cheppy he displayed unusual gallantry by crossing a fire-swept area and carrying messages to tanks, coolly moving from one to another and Informing the drivers of his mission, under a fire so .heavy and accurate that many of the tanks were struck by bullets while he was standing by. Address: Care of The Adjutant General of the Army, Washington, D. C. Residence at appointment: 415 East Eleventh Street, Little Rock, Ark. George W. Gardner (Army serial No. 1588420), private, Company D, 28th Infantry, 1st Division. For extraordinary heroism in action at Exermont, France, October 4, 1918. When a German 77-millimeter gun, supported by numerous machine guns, broke the tank attack and held up the infantry advance, Pvt. Gardner, with two scouts, made an encircling movement amid heavy fire and put the gun out of action, capturing the entire crew. They then cleaned out the enemy dugouts in the vicinity and returned with 40 prisoners, including an officer. Residence at enlistment: R. F. D. No. 4, Lonoke, Ark. Jesse M. Grisham, corporal, Company L, 359th Infantry. For extraordinary heroism in action near Fey-en-Haye, France, September 12, 1918. When the advance of his company was halted by an impassable barbed-wire entanglement, he voluntarily jumped out of a trench In the face of heavy machine-gun fire and cut sufficient paths through the wire to enable the company to continue its advance. In the performance of this self-sacrificing act this gallant soldier was killed. Emergency address: Mrs. Mary Lackey, mother, Holland, Ark. Residence at enlistment: Holland, Ark. Eric C. Hufstedler, private, Company F, 6th Regiment, United States Marine Corps, 2d Division. After being severely wounded in the occupation of Bouresches, France, on June 6, 1918 he refused to go to the rear but remained and assisted with the wounded, displaying great self-sacrifice and devotion to duty. Residence at enlistment: Birdell, Ark. William D. Husbands, private, Company K, 38th Infantry. For extraordinary heroism in action near Fismes, France, August 10, 1918. With one other soldier he volunteered and went to the rescue of a wounded man from another regiment, and returned through heavy machine-gun and shell fire, bringing the wounded man to his own trench. Residence at enlistment: Route No. 2, Arkadelphla, Ark. Andy W. Kceton, private, Company G, 357th Infantry. For extraordinary heroism in action near Fey-en-Haye, France, September 9-12, 1918. Becoming separated from his patrol, Pvt. Keeton, with another soldier, attacked an enemy patrol and drove it off, though the number of their opponents was estimated at 50. During the advance of September 12 north of Fey-en-Haye he went to the rescue of his battalion commander and another officer, who were pocketed by the fire of a machine gun. He stalked the gun position and drove-off the gunners. Residence at enlistment: Ozark, Ark. Field E. Kindley, first lieutenant, 148th Aero Squadron, Air Service. For extraordinary heroism in action near Bourlon Wood, France, September 21. 1918. He attacked a formation of seven hostile planes (type Fokker) and sent one crashing to the ground. A bronze oak leaf is awarded to Lieut. Kindley for the following act of extraordinary heroism in action near Marcoing, France, September 27, 1918: Flying at a low altitude, this officer bombed the railway at Marcoing and drove down an enemy balloon. He then attacked German troops at a low altitude and silenced a hostile machine gun, after which he shot down in flames an enemy plane (type Halberstadt) which had attacked him. He has so far destroyed seven and one-half enemy aircraft and driven down three out of control. Address: Care of The Adjutant General of the Army, Washington, D. C. Residence at appointment: Gravette, Ark. Fred Micklish, private, Company L, 7th Infantry. For extraordinary heroism in action near Fossoy, France, July 15, 1918. Acting as runner, he made repeated trips through the heavy enemy bombardment until wounded while carrying a message. Though suffering great pain, he completed his mission before reporting for treatment. Residence at enlistment: 705 Huntington Avenue, Jonesboro, Ark. William H. Norton, sergeant, Company I, 18th Infantry. Finding himself in a dugout surrounded by Germans, and in which a hand grenade had been thrown, he refused to surrender, made a bold dash outside, killed one of his assailants, put the others to flight, and resumed his duty with his company. Residence at enlistment, Hardy, Ark. Ray E. Porter, first lieutenant, 34th Infantry. For extraordinary heroism in action near Rembercourt, France, November 1-2, 1918. He led his company in a successful assault on a ridge of high ground, taking several strong points and machine-gun nests and numerous prisoners. He held this position for 30 hours without food or water against two enemy counterattacks until relieved. Address: Care of The Adjutant General of the Army, Washington, D. C. Entered military service from Arkansas. James M. Richardson, second lieutenant, Air Service, pilot, 1st Aero Squadron. For extraordinary heroism in action near Grand-Pre, France, October 6, 1918. He undertook an Infantry contact patrol mission under weather conditions which necessitated flying at an altitude of only 100 meters. Near the front lines machine guns opened an effective fire on his plane, and he was wounded in the foot, but he continued on the mission until the front lines of the American troops were located and his observer had written out a report for the division commander. Residence at appointment: De Vail Bluff, Ark. George F. Rozelle, jr., lieutenant colonel, 1st Battalion, 28th Infantry. For three days near Cantigny, France, May 28-30, 1918, he withstood German assaults under intense bombardment, heroically exposing himself to fire constantly in order to command his battalion effectively, and, although his command lost half its officers and 30 per cent of its men, he held his position and prevented a break in the line at that point. Address: Care of The Adjutant General of the Army, Washington, D. C. Entered Military Academy from Arkansas. Abe Short (Army serial No. 551605), sergeant, Company H, 38th Infantry. For extraordinary heroism in action near Romagne, France, October 8, 1918. Sergt. Short courageously led his platoon through a terrific barrage and silenced a machine-gun position which was enfilading the attacking lines. He was killed later in this action. For the following act of extraordinary heroism in action near Mezy, France, July 15, 1918, Sergt. Short is awarded an oak-leaf cluster: Although seriously wounded, he continued in command of his group during the battle of the Marne and succeeded in destroying three boats loaded with Germans. Emergency address: Anderson B. Short, father, Aurora, Ark. Residence at enlistment; Aurora, Ark. Joe Smith (Army serial No. 556655), private, Company C, 39th Infantry. For extraordinary heroism in action near Bois-du-Fays, France, October 10-13, 1918. Acting as battalion runner, Pvt. Smith repeatedly carried messages over a route swept by machine-gun and artillery fire. It was necessary to send runners night and day, in order to maintain communication with the front lines. He volunteered out of his turn for this dangerous but all-important work. Residence at enlistment: Center Point, Ark. Samuel T. Smith, first lieutenant, Battery B, 6th Field Artillery. For extraordinary heroism in action near Fleville, France, October 4, 1918, When his platoon had been caught in an enemy barrage and all the cannoneers except two had been killed, he made repeated trips into the shelled area to remove the wounded to a place of safety. He refused any treatment for four wounds which he had received until all of his men had received medical treatment. Residence at enlistment: Conway, Ark. Brehon B. Somervell, lieutenant colonel, Corps of Engineers, 89th Division. For extraordinary heroism in action near Pouilly, France, November 5-6, 1918. Voluntarily serving on the staff of the 89th Division, he conducted the first engineering reconnaissance of the damaged bridges at Pouilly, where with two scouts he advanced more than 500 meters beyond the American outposts, crossing three branches of the Meuse River and successfully encountering the enemy. Address: Care of The Adjutant General of the Army, Washington, D. C. Entered Military Academy from Arkansas. William J. Steimel, private, Company D, 2d Engineers. For extraordinary heroism in action near Bois de Belleau, France, June 12, 1918. Although wounded in several places by an enemy hand grenade, he refused to go to the rear until his mission was completed. After receiving first aid he again returned to the front line, although the entire line was at that time being subjected to a severe shelling. Residence at enlistment: Debow, Ark. Lee Trimmer, private, Headquarters Company, 16th Infantry. For extraordinary heroism in action near Villers-devant-Mousson, France, November 7, 1918. After being relieved from duty as a cart driver at his own request, he volunteered and made individual patrols. He located two machine guns by exposing himself and drawing their fire. His exceptional bravery resulted in the destruction of a machine gun and the dispersal of its crew. Residence at enlistment: Hardy, Ark. Harry A. Williamson, sergeant, Company C, 6th Infantry. For extraordinary heroism in action at Romagne, France, October 14, 1918. While advancing with his platoon he located the position of an enemy machine gun. Without assistance he attacked the gun and successfully accomplished the capture of both gun and crew. Residence at enlistment: Mena, Ark. William M. Woodsmall (Army serial No. 2869212), corporal, Company A, 131st Infantry. For extraordinary heroism in action near Consenvoye, France, October 10, 1918. He left our lines on his own initiative and advancing alone against a German machine-gun nest killed the crew and brought back their machine gun. He showed marked coolness and bravery, with utter disregard for the heavy fire to which he was subjected. Residence at enlistment: 1112 West College Street, Little Rock, Ark.