World War I last Names h q compiled and Edited By

Home Town: France

Larson, Colonel

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Colonel Larson, Corporal, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Headquarters Company, 128th Infantry Regiment, 32d Division, A.E.F., near Juvigny, France, September 1 - 3, 1918. Corporal Larson constantly patrolled the telephone lines in front of Juvigny, repairing the lines under heavy artillery and machine-gun fire. Near Ecurey, when the enemy artillery fire was so intense as to make telephonic communications impossible, Corporal Larson, on duty as a lineman, volunteered as a runner, and served as such under extremely heavy fire until completely exhausted.

• 
  General Orders 98, War Department, 1919
  

Home Town: Neillsville, Wisconsin

Larson, James A.

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to James A. Larson, Corporal, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company K, 314th Infantry Regiment, 79th Division, A.E.F., near Malancourt, France, September 26, 1918. Corporal Larson, with another soldier from his platoon, outflanked a machine-gun in advance of our line, killed three of the crew and captured two others, together with the machine-gun.

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  General Orders No. 46, War Department, 1919
  

Home Town: Blossburg, Pennsylvania

Larson, Julius D.

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Julius D. Larson, Private First Class, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company F, 7th Engineers, 5th Division, A.E.F., near Brieulles, France, November 3, 1918. With indomitable courage and bravery, Private Larson rendered most valuable assistance in the construction of a pontoon bridge across the Meuse River, and two other bridges across the Canal Est. At both places the work was done in the face of heavy machine-gun fire.

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  General Orders No. 37, War Department, 1919
  

Home Town: Chaseburg, Wisconsin

*Lashiwer, Hyman

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Hyman Lashiwer, Private First Class, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company M, 9th Infantry Regiment, 2d Division, A.E.F., near Jaulny, France, September 12, 1918. Private Lashiwer, with three other soldiers, volunteered to carry wounded men of other companies from in front of our advanced positions and carried this work on under violent machine-gun fire while a counterattack was developing.

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  General Orders No. 37, War Department, 1919
  

Home Town: New York, New York

*Lasseigne, Francis M.

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Francis M. Lasseigne, Captain (Infantry), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company D, 30th Infantry Regiment, 3d Division, A.E.F., at Chartreves, France, June 17 - 18, 1918. Captain Lasseigne conducted a patrol across the Marne River which stream was closely guarded by the enemy, and succeeded in eluding the hostile outposts on the north bank. The patrol proceeded about 600 yards into enemy territory and entered the town of Chartreves, captured five Germans, returned to the boats, and succeeded in re-crossing the river. On the return trip the enemy discovered the patrol and subjected it to heavy fire, but Captain Lasseigne brought his men and prisoners safely back to the south bank of the river.

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  General Orders No. No. 16, War Department, 1929
  

Home Town: San Juan, Puerto Rico

Latham, Davidson U. N.

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Davidson U. N. Latham, Wagoner, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company G, 5th Ammunition Train, 5th Division, A.E.F., near Septsarges, France, October 24, 1918. When an enemy shell struck some pyrotechnics stored in the ammunition dump of his organization, Wagoner Latham assisted in removing inflammable material and placing the fire under control. Through his coolness and courage, the destruction of a large quantity of near-by ammunition was avoided.

• 
  General Orders No. 37, War Department, 1919
  

Home Town: Gastonia, North Carolina

*Lauber, Clarence E.

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Clarence E. Lauber, Private, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company I, 356th Infantry Regiment, 89th Division, A.E.F., near Pouilly, France, November 10 - 11, 1918. Private Lauber accompanied Lieutenant Murphy and three other soldiers in a flank attack on three heavy machine-guns; fired on directly at 30 yards, they charged the guns, and in the hand-to-hand fight which followed this soldier and two of his comrades were killed.

• 
  General Orders No. 44, War Department, 1919
  

Home Town: Wauseon, Ohio

Laughlin, Joseph H.

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Joseph H. Laughlin, Private, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company A, 28th Infantry Regiment, 1st Division, A.E.F., near Cantigny, France, May 28 - 30, 1918. In command of the battalion runners, Private Laughlin volunteered to carry messages through the unusually heavy fire. During a very critical period of the fighting, he twice went through a machine-gun barrage to the front line to obtain information when no word from that source had been received for a long period.

• 
  General Orders 98, War Department, 1919
  

Home Town: Concord, North Carolina

Launcelot, Marc V.

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Marc V. Launcelot, Sergeant, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 1st Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment, 2d Division, A.E.F., near Medeah Ferme, France, October 3, 1918. During the absence of his platoon commander, Sergeant Launcelot took command of the platoon, led an attack and captured seven machine guns in strong position. He was later seriously wounded.

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  General Orders No. 21, War Department, 1919
  

Home Town: Bridgeport, Connecticut

*Lautenbacher, Ivan L.

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Ivan L. Lautenbacher, First Lieutenant (Infantry), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company C, 316th Infantry Regiment, 79th Division, A.E.F., near Verdun, France, October 2, 1918. Although suffering from a severe illness Lieutenant Lautenbacher refused to be evacuated and remained with his organization. When his company commander was seriously wounded, he took command of the company and pressed the attack until he received wounds which result in his making the supreme sacrifice.

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  General Orders No. No. 14, War Department, 1928
  

Home Town: Schuylkill Haven, Pennsylvania

*Lautenslager, Earl W.

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Earl W. Lautenslager, Private, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company B, 108th Infantry Regiment, 27th Division, A.E.F., east of Ronssoy, France, September 29, 1918. During the operations against the Hindenburg line, when his company was held up by an enemy machine-gun nest, he volunteered to cross an open field in front of his company in order to ascertain the exact location of the enemy's position. While engaged in this enterprise he was killed by a bursting shell. His heroic self-sacrifice was a splendid example to the men of his company.

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  General Orders No. 16, War Department, 1919
  

Home Town: Genesee, New York

*Laviolette, Henry J.

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Henry J. Laviolette, Private, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company K, 104th Infantry Regiment, 26th Division, A.E.F., near Chateau-Thierry, France, July 20 - 23, 1918. Private Laviolette, acting as a runner, carried messages through heavy artillery fire with absolute fearlessness until killed.

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  General Orders No. No. 116, War Department, 1918
  

Home Town: Marlboro, Massachusetts

*Lavoie, Leo J.

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Leo J. Lavoie, Corporal, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company D, 16th Infantry Regiment, 1st Division, A.E.F., in the Argonne Forest, France, October 9, 1918. Corporal Lavoie led his squad against an enemy machine gun which was causing severe losses on his company. His journey was made through a very difficult terrain and under deadly fire, but his mission was accomplished without the loss of a man. Later in the day he was killed while leading his squad.

• 
  General Orders No. 44, War Department, 1919
  

Home Town: Lunenburg, Massachusetts

Lawhorne, Dewie H.

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Dewie H. Lawhorne, Private, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company G, 120th Infantry Regiment, 30th Division, A.E.F., near Bellicourt, France, September 29, 1918. In the face of heavy machine-gun fire, Private Lawhorne, with two other soldiers, attacked and put out of action an enemy machine-gun post, capturing a German officer and three soldiers.

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  General Orders No. 37, War Department, 1919
  

Home Town: Draper, North Carolina

Lawless, Edward R.

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Edward R. Lawless, Sergeant Major, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Headquarters Company, 39th Infantry Regiment, 4th Division, A.E.F., near Troesnes, France, July 18, 1918. When it had become necessary to send an urgent message to the battalion base company, Sergeant Major Lawless, though under fire for the first time voluntarily took the message across an open field, a distance of 500 yards. It seemed almost impossible to get through the murderous fire, but, knowing the importance of the message, Sergeant Major Lawless ventured through, rather than take the longer yet safer route. He completed his mission, returning over the same course.

• 
  General Orders No. 44, War Department, 1919
  

Home Town: Boston, Massachusetts

Lawless, James B.

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to James B. Lawless, Sergeant, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Machine-Gun Company, 310th Infantry Regiment, 78th Division, A.E.F., near Thiaucourt, France, September 22, 1918. During a raid Sergeant Lawless bayoneted the men at two enemy machine guns, which were firing upon our raiding party and put several others out of action with and grenades.

• 
  General Orders No. 35, War Department, 1919
  

Home Town: Newport, Rhode Island

Lawlor, Joseph William

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Joseph William Lawlor, First Lieutenant (Infantry), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 118th Infantry Regiment, 30th Division, A.E.F., at St. Martin-Riviere, France, October 17, 1918. Being the only officer left with the company, Lieutenant Lawlor was ordered to clear a village of the enemy. Most of his command became separated from him in a dense fog, but with his one remaining squad he proceeded to accomplish his mission. Lieutenant Lawler and one soldier came upon a hundred Germans operating machine guns from behind a hedge and succeeded in capturing 50 of the enemy. This officer then pursued the others, exchanging shots with a German officer as he ran.

• 
  General Orders No. 37, War Department, 1919
  

Home Town: Montclair, New Jersey

Lawrance, Jackson S.

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Jackson S. Lawrance, Major (Medical Corps), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 368th Infantry Regiment (Attached), 92d Division, A.E.F., at Binarville, France, September 30, 1918. Major Lawrance, with two soldiers, voluntarily left shelter and crossed an open space 50 yards wide, swept by shell and machine-gun fire, to rescue a wounded soldier, whom they carried to a place of safety.

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  General Orders No. 20, War Department, 1919
  

Home Town: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Lawrence, Henry S.

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Henry S. Lawrence, Sergeant, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company B, 108th Machine-Gun Battalion, 28th Division, A.E.F., near Baslieux, France, September 5, 1918. When the advance of the platoon commanded by him was held up by machine-gun fire from the front and flanks, Sergeant Lawrence took a rifle and bayonet and, accompanied by another soldier, crawled under the enemy wire in the face of severe fire, drove off the crews of several enemy machine guns and returned with two prisoners, thereby enabling his platoon to rush on. Subsequently under heavy machine-gun and sniper fire, he went along the line of his gun emplacements cheering and encouraging his men, his fearlessness affording an inspiration to them throughout the engagement.

• 
  General Orders No. No. 128, War Department, 1918
  

Home Town: Peckville, Pennsylvania

Lawrence, Hull F.

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Hull F. Lawrence, Private, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company K, 312th Infantry Regiment, 78th Division, A.E.F., near Grand Pre, France, October 23, 1918. While his company was seeking shelter from a continuous rain of machine-gun bullets, Private Lawrence voluntarily carried messages from his company commander, who was lying wounded under enemy observation, to battalion headquarters. He worked under heavy bombardment at all times, but showed remarkable courage and devotion to duty while thus engaged.

• 
  General Orders No. 37, War Department, 1919
  

Home Town: Newark, New Jersey

Lawrence, Vivian S., Jr.

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Vivian S. Lawrence, Jr., Corporal, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 319th Ambulance Company, 305th Sanitary Train, 80th Division, A.E.F., near Gercourt, France, September 29, 1918. While Corporal Lawrence was passing along the roads leading to Septsarges, near Gercourt, in an ambulance, a large shell fell among a group of infantry soldiers nearby, severely wounding five of them. He stopped the ambulance and rendered efficient first aid, although under concentrated shell fire. He then loaded the patients in the ambulance and removed them from the shelled area.

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  General Orders No. 13, War Department, 1919
  

Home Town: Churchland, Virginia

*Lawson, Bradley

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Bradley Lawson, Private First Class, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Machine-Gun Company, 120th Infantry Regiment, 30th Division, A.E.F., near Bellicourt, France, September 29, 1918. Having been wounded by a bursting shell immediately after the opening of the attack, Private Lawson refused to go to the rear, but remained with his corporal, who had been severely wounded by the same shell. For two hours, under an intense enemy barrage, he continued to minister to his wounded comrade, until another shell burst nearby, by which he was fatally wounded.

• 
  General Orders No. 37, War Department, 1919
  

Home Town: Kildav, Kentucky

Lawson, Fred M.

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Fred M. Lawson, Corporal, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company L, 7th Infantry Regiment, 3d Division, A.E.F., at Fossoy, France, July 14 - 17, 1918. When it was reported that the enemy had crossed the Marne River, Corporal Lawson twice led a patrol across his platoon front through heavy shell fire and at the risk of his life. On July 15, 16, & 17 he worked day and night unceasingly until forced to stop from complete exhaustion, displaying at all times the highest coolness and judgment, and rendering services of the greatest value.

• 
  General Orders 87, War Department, 1919
  

Home Town: Rose Hill, Kentucky

Lawson, Walter Rolls

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Walter Rolls Lawson, Captain (Air Service), U.S. Army Air Service, for repeated acts of extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 91st Aero Squadron, U.S. Army Air Service, A.E.F., near St. Mihiel, France, July 30 and September 13, 1918. Captain Lawson showed rare courage on a reconnaissance far over the enemy lines when he continued on his mission after being seriously wounded by antiaircraft fire. On September 13, although he was still convalescing from his wound, he volunteered for a particularly dangerous mission requiring a flight of 75 kilometers within the enemy lines. Because of weather conditions he was forced to fly at a dangerously low altitude and was repeatedly fired on by antiaircraft and machine guns. He successfully accomplished his mission and returned with important information.

• 
  General Orders No. 21, War Department, 1919
  

Home Town: Birmingham, Alabama

Lawton, Charles B.

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Charles B. Lawton, First Lieutenant (Infantry), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 28th Infantry Regiment, 1st Division, A.E.F., near Exermont, France, October 4, 1918. Company M, 28th Infantry, under command of Lieutenant Lawton, while in advance against the enemy's position was topped by a heavy concentration of machine-gun fire. Lieutenant Lawton, the only officer present, took four men and fearlessly went forward of his company's front line, passing through the enemy fire, and entered a wood which formed the enemy's front line. Discovering a series of five hostile machine-gun positions he promptly led a rush upon them, overcoming and subduing the three center positions. Dividing his party, he, with one man, rushed the fifth position, capturing it together with several prisoners, while the remaining members of his party rushed the other positions successfully. While returning to his own lines with the prisoners, Lieutenant Lawton was severely wounded. This extraordinary gallantry enabled the company to continue its advance.

• 
  General Orders No. No. 2, War Department, 1931
  

Home Town: Ann Arbor, Michigan

Lay, Arthur

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Arthur Lay, Mechanic, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company D, 9th Infantry Regiment, 2d Division, A.E.F., near the Meuse River,. France, November 3 - 4, 1918. While passing through the German lines at night carrying messages Mechanic Lay captured eight of the enemy, including two officers, and marched them back four kilometers. Next day he carried messages through artillery and machine-gun fire, and fearlessly exposed himself to danger in guiding companies into position. While returning from a mission he carried a severely wounded comrade through a machine-gun barrage to the dressing station.

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  General Orders No. 46, War Department, 1919
  

Home Town: Albany, New York

Layer, John L.

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to John L. Layer, Private, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Battery B, 10th Field Artillery, 3d Division, A.E.F., near St. Eugene, France, July 14, 1918. Private Layer continued on duty, repairing breaks in telephone line, even after being severely wounded and almost unconscious.

• 
  General Orders No. 44, War Department, 1919
  

Home Town: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Le Bellege, Jean B.

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Jean B. Le Bellege, Marechal des Logis, Army of France, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 22d Regiment, Artillery of Colonial Campaign, Army of France, in the Argonne Forest, France, November 1918. Marechal des Logis Le Bellege was wounded on three different occasions, but each time remained on duty with his battery, consenting to be treated after his mission had been completed. His coolness under gravest circumstances won the admiration of all with whom he was connected.

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  General Orders 81, War Department, 1919
  

Home Town: France

Le Cam, Yves Marie

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Yves Marie Le Cam, Private First Class, Army of France, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 153d Regiment (Infantry), Army of France, near Vauxbrun, Soissons, France, July 1, 1918. While advancing with and assisting an American colonel in an attack on the enemy, Private Le Cam displayed meritorious valor in combating the enemy. With fixed bayonet, he attacked the hostile party and exacted no less than four casualties, one of whom was a non-commissioned officer.

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  General Orders 81, War Department, 1919
  

Home Town: France

Le Clair, Arthur H.

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Arthur H. Le Clair, Corporal, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company D, 16th Infantry Regiment, 1st Division, A.E.F., in the Argonne Forest, France, October 12th, 1918. When ordered on an exploiting party one and one-half kilometers in advance of our lines, Corporal Le Clair first reconnoitered the route and then led his men forward under heavy fire from the enemy artillery and machine guns. He held the position he established under heavy fire, until relieved 14 hours later.

• 
  General Orders 87, War Department, 1919
  

Home Town: Gardner, Massachusetts

Le Coin, Rene H.

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Rene H. Le Coin, Interpreter, Army of France, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with the French Mission, 28th U.S. Infantry (Attached), 1st Division, A.E.F., near Cantigny, France, May 28 - 30, 1918. During the critical operations around Cantigny, Interpreter Le Coin was constantly on duty at an observation post. Seeing a group of men retreating in disorder, he rushed to them, stopped their retreat, and returned them to their positions on the line.