Unknown County ND Archives Military Records.....Smith, Fred E. 1918
WWI 308th Infantry, 77th Division
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Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com December 9, 2007, 10:19 pm

Congressional Medal Of Honor Citation
    Fred E. Smith, lieutenant colonel, 308th Infantry, 77th Division. For 
conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action 
with the enemy near Binarville, France, September 28, 1918. When communication 
from the forward regimental post of command to the battalion leading the advance 
had been interrupted temporarily by the infiltration of small parties of the enemy
armed with machine guns, Lieut. Col. Smith personally led a party of 2 other 
officers and 10 soldiers, and went forward to reestablish runner posts and carry 
ammunition to the front line. The guide became confused and the party strayed to 
the left flank beyond the outposts of supporting troops, suddenly coming under 
fire from a group of enemy machine guns only 50 yards away. Shouting to the other 
members of his party to take cover, this officer, in disregard of his own 
danger, drew his pistol and opened fire on the German gun crew. About this time 
he fell, severely wounded in the side, but, regaining his footing, he continued 
to fire on the enemy until most of the men in his party were out of danger. 
Refusing first-aid treatment he then made his way in plain view of the enemy to 
a hand-grenade dump and returned under continued heavy machine-gun fire for the 
purpose of making another attack on the enemy emplacements. As he was attempting
to ascertain the exact location of the nearest nest, he again fell, mortally 
wounded. Emergency address: Mrs. Clara R. Smith, wife, 646 East Sixtieth Street,
Portland, Oreg. Entered military service from North Dakota.

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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