_Barger, Charles D., Private, first class_, Co. L, 354th Infantry, 89th
Division, Stotts City, Mo.—Bois de Bantheville, France, Oct. 31, 1918.
Learning that two daylight patrols had been caught out in No Man’s Land
and were unable to return, Private Barger and another stretcher bearer,
upon their own initiative, made two trips 500 yards beyond our lines,
under constant machine-gun fire, and rescued two wounded officers.
* * * * *
_Barkeley, David B., Private_, Co. A, 356 Infantry, 89th Division, San
Antonio, Texas.—Pouilly, France, Nov. 9, 1918. When information was
desired as to the enemy’s position on the opposite side of the River
Meuse, Private Barkeley, with another soldier, volunteered without
hesitation and swam the river to reconnoiter the exact location.
He succeeded in reaching the opposite bank, despite the evident
determination of the enemy to prevent a crossing. Having obtained his
information, he again entered the water for his return, but before his
goal was reached he was seized with cramps and drowned.
* * * * *
_Chiles, Marcellus H., Captain_, 356th Infantry, 89th Division, Denver,
Col.—Le Champy-Bas, France, Nov. 3, 1918. When his battalion, of which
he had just taken command, was halted by machine-gun fire from the
front and left flank he picked up the rifle of a dead soldier and,
calling on his men to follow, led the advance across a stream, waist
deep, in the face of the machine-gun fire. Upon reaching the opposite
bank this gallant officer was seriously wounded in the abdomen by a
sniper; but before permitting himself to be evacuated he made complete
arrangements for turning over his command to the next senior officer;
and under the inspiration of his fearless leadership his battalion
reached its objective. Captain Chiles died shortly after reaching the
hospital.
* * * * *
_Forrest, Arthur J., Sergeant_, Co. D, 354th Infantry, 89th Division,
Hannibal, Mo.—Rémonville, France, Nov. 1, 1918. When the advance of
his company was stopped by bursts of fire from a nest of six enemy
machine guns, he worked his way single-handed without being discovered
to a point within fifty yards of the machine-gun nest. Charging,
single-handed, he drove out the enemy in disorder, thereby protecting
the advance platoon from annihilating fire, and permitting the
resumption of the advance of his company.
* * * * *
_Funk, Jesse N., Private, first class_, 354th Infantry, 89th Division,
Calnan, Col.—Bois de Bantheville, France, Oct. 31, 1918. Learning that
two daylight patrols had been caught out in No Man’s Land and were
unable to return, Private Funk and another stretcher bearer, upon
their own initiative, made two trips 500 yards beyond our lines, under
constant machine-gun fire, and rescued two wounded officers.
* * * * *
_Furlong, Richard A., First Lieutenant_, 353rd Infantry, 89th Division,
Detroit, Mich.—Bantheville, France, Nov. 1, 1918. Immediately after the
opening of the attack in the Bois de Bantheville, when his company was
held up by severe machine-gun fire from the front, which killed his
company commander and several soldiers, Lieutenant Furlong moved out in
advance of the line with great courage and coolness, crossing an open
space several hundred yards wide. Taking up a position behind the line
of machine guns, he closed in on them, one at a time, killing a number
of the enemy with his rifle, putting four machine-gun nests out of
action, and driving twenty German prisoners into our lines.
* * * * *
_Hatler, M. Waldo, Sergeant_, Co. B, 356th Infantry, 89th Division,
Neosho, Mo.—Pouilly, France, Nov. 8, 1918. When volunteers were called
for to secure information as to the enemy’s position on the opposite
bank of the Meuse River, Sergeant Hatler was the first to offer his
services for this dangerous mission. Swimming across the river, he
succeeded in reaching the German lines after another soldier who had
started with him had been seized with cramps and drowned in midstream.
Alone he carefully and courageously reconnoitered the enemy’s
positions, which were held in force, and again successfully swam the
river, bringing back information of great value.
* * * * *
_Johnston, Harold I., Sergeant_, Co. A, 356th Infantry, 89th Division,
Denver, Col.—Pouilly, France, Nov. 9, 1918. When information was
desired as to the enemy’s position on the opposite side of the River
Meuse, Sergeant Johnston, with another soldier, volunteered without
hesitation and swam the river to reconnoiter the exact location of the
enemy. He succeeded in reaching the opposite bank, despite the evident
determination of the enemy to prevent a crossing. Having obtained
his information, he again entered the water for his return. This was
accomplished after a severe struggle, which so exhausted him that he
had to be assisted from the water, after which he rendered his report
of the exploit.
* * * * *
_Wickersham, J. Hunter, Second Lieutenant_, 353rd Infantry, 89th
Division, Denver, Col.—Limey, France, Sept. 12, 1918. Advancing with
his platoon during the St. Mihiel offensive, he was severely wounded
in four places by the bursting of a high-explosive shell. Before
receiving any aid for himself he dressed the wounds of his orderly who
was wounded at the same time. Then, although weakened by the loss of
blood, he ordered and accompanied the further advance of his platoon.
His right hand and arm being disabled by wounds, he continued to fire
his revolver with his left hand, until, exhausted by loss of blood, he
fell and died from his wounds before aid could be administered.