World War I last Names h q compiled and Edited By

• 
  General Orders 71, War Department, 1919
  

Home Town: New York, New York

Oosterbann, Dick

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Dick Oosterbann, Private, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company C, 15th Machine-Gun Battalion, 5th Division, A.E.F., in the Bois-de-Rappes, France, October 21, 1918. While repulsing an enemy counterattack in the Bois-de-Rappe, Private Oosterbann, a gunner, was so badly wounded that he could no longer fire, but lay beside his gun for 18 hours, without medical attention, under heavy machine-gun fire, encouraging the remainder of his squad until the attack was over.

• 
  General Orders No. 35, War Department, 1919
  

Home Town: Zeeland, Michigan

Opie, Hierome L.

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Hierome L. Opie, Major (Infantry), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 116th Infantry Regiment, 29th Division, A.E.F., near Samogneux, France, October 15, 1918. Although painfully wounded, Major Opie continued in command of his battalion, successfully leading it to its objective. During the action Major Opie displayed rare courage and valor, refusing relief until the new objective was consolidated.

• 
  General Orders No. 37, War Department, 1919
  

Home Town: Staunton, Virginia

Oppenheim, Arlie C.

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Arlie C. Oppenheim, Corporal, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company I, 28th Infantry Regiment, 1st Division, A.E.F., near Soissons, France, July 19, 1918. During the attack on this date, Corporal Oppenheim assisted his platoon commander in pushing forward the attack against strong enemy resistance. Later, when the advance of his platoon was halted by machine-gun fire, he, with three others, advanced ahead of our lines and silenced the enemy machine gun. Due to his gallantry, his organization was enabled to continue the advance. Later in the engagement, he was seriously wounded and evacuated to the hospital.

• 
  General Orders No. 72, War Department, 1920
  

Home Town: Lake Park, Georgia

Orcutt, Iver

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Iver Orcutt, Private, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company E, 56th Infantry Regiment, 7th Division, A.E.F., near Preny, France, November 1, 1918. When it was rumored that several of the front line companies had been forced to withdraw, Private Orcutt volunteered and went over the entire front during the night, reporting back the exact location of each unit. His mission was accomplished under shrapnel fire and gas, but he succeeded where many other runners had failed.

• 
  General Orders No. 44, War Department, 1919
  

Home Town: Seattle, Washington

Ord, Ralph Edward

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Ralph Edward Ord, Sergeant, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company C, 111th Infantry Regiment, 28th Division, A.E.F., west of Fismette, France, August 10, 1918. Sergeant Ord, with another soldier, voluntarily left a place of safety and crawled through heavy machine-gun and shell fire to the aid of a comrade who had fallen wounded during the withdrawal of their company from an exposed position, carrying him 75 yards across an open area to shelter.

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

Home Town: Dravosburg, Pennsylvania

O'Rourke, Cornelius

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Cornelius O'Rourke, First Sergeant, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company A, 15th Machine-Gun Battalion, 5th Division, A.E.F., near Vieville-en-Haye, France, September 14, 1918. Seeing two wounded comrades lying exposed to heavy enemy machine-gun and artillery fire, he went out in disregard of all danger to himself and brought them in, one at a time, to a sheltered place, thus inspiring his men by his great dash and courage.

• 
  General Orders No. No. 145, War Department, 1918
  

Home Town: New Haven, Connecticut

O'Rourke, James H.

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to James H. O'Rourke, Private, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company D, 311th Infantry Regiment, 78th Division, A.E.F., near Vieville-en-Haye, France, September 26, 1918. After being twice wounded, Private O'Rourke captured two prisoners and took them to the battalion headquarters.

• 
  General Orders No. 26, War Department, 1919
  

Home Town: Lakewood, New Jersey

*O'Rourke, John P. (AKA: John T. Burke)

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to John P. O'Rourke, Private, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Medical Detachment, 9th Infantry Regiment (Attached), 2d Division, A.E.F., near Blanc Mont Ridge, France, October 3 - 9, 1918. With utter disregard for his personal safety, Private O'Rourke worked untiringly under heavy shell fire and gave aid to the wounded He lost his life while advancing in front of his company to give aid to some wounded.

• 
  General Orders No. 44, War Department, 1919
  

Home Town: Elk Point, South Dakota

*Orr, Edward

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Edward Orr, First Lieutenant (Air Service), U.S. Army Air Service, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 12th Aero Squadron, U.S. Army Air Service, A.E.F., in the Toul sector, France, August 28, 1918. Lieutenant Orr, flying with Lieutenant Phil A. Henderson, infantry, observer, on an unprotected reconnaissance mission, encountered a patrol of eight enemy pursuit planes near the American balloon line. The patrol was sighted just as one of them dived on the balloon with the intention of destroying it. Without hesitation, Lieutenant Orr attacked this plane and followed it to within 50 meters, firing his single front gun against the double guns with which the German plane was equipped. In the meantime Lieutenant Henderson engaged the other eight planes, which attacked from the rear. After a violent combat, all of the enemy planes were driven off. On September 14, 1918, Lieutenant Orr was accidentally killed.

• 
  General Orders No. 20, War Department, 1919
  

Home Town: Chicago, Illinois

*Ortiz, Concepcion

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Concepcion Ortiz, Private, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company I, 125th Infantry Regiment, 32d Division, A.E.F., near Romagne, France, October 11, 1918. On the morning of October 11 Private Ortiz made numerous trips across a valley which was swept by continuous and terrific machine-gun fire, carrying messages of great importance from his company in the front line to his battalion post of command. After having successfully and fearlessly carried many messages he lost his life while performing the hazardous duty.

• 
  General Orders 64, War Department, 1919
  

Home Town: Eagle Pass, Texas

*Ortt, Horace F.

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Horace F. Ortt, Private, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Battery C, 123d Field Artillery, 33d Division, A.E.F., in the Very- Epinonville Valley, northwest of Verdun, France, October 4, 1918. Private Ortt volunteered to carry an important message to a position under heavy enemy fire, realizing in advance that he was exposing himself to unusual dangers in this undertaking. He continued in his task until killed by an enemy shell.

• 
  General Orders No. No. 5, War Department, 1920
  

Home Town: Dixon, Illinois

Osborn, Morton

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Morton Osborn, Sergeant, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company H, 47th Infantry Regiment, 4th Division, A.E.F., southeast of Bazoches, France, August 7 - 9, 1918. Wounded in the head and shoulder, Sergeant Osborn rejoined his platoon as soon as his wounds had been dressed and remained with it until the command was relieved, displaying rare qualities of leadership and judgment under heavy machine-gun and rifle fire.

• 
  General Orders No. No. 137, War Department, 1918
  

Home Town: Load, Kentucky

Osborne, Harry

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Harry Osborne, Corporal, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company F, 9th Infantry Regiment, 2d Division, A.E.F., near Medeah Ferme, France, October 3, 1918. Corporal Osborne, together with four other men, charged a machine-gun nest containing three heavy machine-guns, capturing the three guns and twenty prisoners.

• 
  General Orders No. 21, War Department, 1919
  

Home Town: Elizabeth, New Jersey

Osmond, Frank W.

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Frank W. Osmond, Corporal, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company A, 301st Tank Battalion, Tank Corps, A.E.F., near Bellicourt, France, September 29, 1918. Corporal Osmond was on duty as gunner in a tank, whose track was broken by a direct hit from an enemy shell. Because of the heavy machine-gun fire it was impossible to repair the track; but Corporal Osmond, accompanied by another soldier, left the tank, picked up some rifles, and, crawling through the trenches and brush to the rear of the machine-gun position, killed four of the enemy crew. They then returned to the tank and assisted in repairing the track, under heavy shell fire.

• 
  General Orders No. 32, War Department, 1919
  

Home Town: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Otte, Fred

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Fred Otte, Private, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company A, 111th Infantry Regiment, 28th Division, A.E.F., at Fismes and Fismette, France, August 9 - 13, 1918. For four days, during the most intense fighting, Private Otte acted as runner between his battalion headquarters at Fismes and troops in Fismette. He made many trips across the Vesle River under heavy shell and machine-gun fire, and when the bridge had been destroyed he continued his trips by swimming the river, which contained wire entanglements.

• 
  General Orders No. 99, War Department, 1918
  

Home Town: Fairmount City, Pennsylvania

Otto, Andrew C., Jr.

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Andrew C. Otto, Jr., Second Lieutenant (Infantry), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 23d Infantry Regiment, 2d Division, A.E.F., south of Soissons, France, July 18, 1918. Lieutenant Otto led a force of 30 men, stormed the strong enemy position in the town of Vauxcastille, capturing 230 prisoners and 15 machine guns. He personally attacked and killed two of the enemy machine gunners. Upon two different occasions he attacked machine-gun nests single handed, killing or capturing the crew. His wonderful courage inspired his men to this remarkable victory against overwhelming odds.

• 
  General Orders No. No. 24, War Department, 1920
  

Home Town: New York, New York

*Otto, William Herman

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to William Herman Otto, Corporal, U.S. Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism while serving with the Forty-Fifth Company, Fifth Regiment (Marines), 2d Division, A.E.F., in action at Chateau-Thierry, France, June 6, 1918. Killed in action, Corporal Otto gave the supreme proof of that extraordinary heroism which will serve as an example to hitherto untried troops.

• 
  General Order No. 110, War Department, 1918
  

Home Town: Chicago, Illinois

Overmeyer, George J.

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to George J. Overmeyer, Corporal, U.S. Army, for repeated acts of extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Headquarters Company, 10th Field Artillery, 2d Division, A.E.F., near Chateau-Thierry, France, June 20, 1918, and near Vierzy, France, July 18, 1918. On June 20 he was in charge of an observation post which was bombarded by gas shells. In spite of the fact that the other observers were overcome by the gas, he remained at his post and continued to transmit observation to the artillery battalion commander. On July 18 this soldier was on liaison duty in the infantry and advanced with the third wave of the attack. He successfully carried a message through two enemy barrages to the artillery commander, thus giving proof of his courageous devotion to duty.

• 
  General Orders No. No. 139, War Department, 1918
  

Home Town: Hartford, Indiana

*Overton, John William

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to John Williams Overton, Second Lieutenant, U.S. Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism while serving with the Sixth Regiment (Marines), 2d Division, A.E.F., in action near Vierzy, France, July 19, 1918. While valiantly leading his platoon in an attack against the enemy, under severe machine-gun and artillery fire, Second Lieutenant Overton was mortally wounded. His courageous conduct had a great moral effect upon his men and helped to insure the success of the attack.

• 
  General Order No. 22, War Department, 1920
  

Home Town: Nashville, Tennessee

*Overton, Macon C.

(First Award)

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Macon C. Overton, Captain, U.S. Marine Corps, for repeated acts of extraordinary heroism while serving with the Sixth Regiment (Marines), 2d Division, A.E.F., in action near Blanc Mont, France, October 2 - 10, 1918. When his battalion was halted by severe fire, Captain Overton attacked and reduced one strong enemy machine-gun nest, and, moving forward, captured one field piece which was firing point-blank at his company. He was wounded the next day, but he refused to be evacuated, and continued to lead his command with skill and courage throughout the engagement. On October 8, after occupying St. Etienne without casualties in his company, Captain Overton went through heavy artillery and machine-gun fire to establish liaison with another company, his conspicuous gallantry inspiring his men to repel two strong counterattacks.

• 
  General Order No. 34, War Department, 1919
  

Home Town: Union Point, Georgia

*Overton, Macon C.

(Second Award)

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross (First Oak Leaf Cluster) is presented to Macon C. Overton, Captain, U.S. Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism while serving with the Sixth Regiment (Marines), 2d Division, A.E.F., in action near St. Georges, France, November 1, 1918. Captain Overton displayed remarkable courage in leading his company under heavy artillery fire and silencing five machine-gun nests. He then personally undertook to guide a tank forward against machine-gun positions and while so doing was seriously wounded by a German anti-tank sniper.

• 
  General Order No. 34, War Department, 1919
  

Home Town: Union Point, Georgia

*Owens, Dewey

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Dewey Owens, Corporal, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company B, 8th Machine-Gun Battalion, 3d Division, A.E.F., near Chateau-Thierry, France, July 14 -15, 1918. While the enemy was attempting a crossing of the River Marne, Corporal Owens set his gun in position under heavy fire, losing some of his men in the exploit. He assisted the wounded to safety, after which he returned to his gun. When a shell struck his gun and disabled it, he secured another gun and placed it in position. This time all his men had become casualties, and, aided by a runner, he manned the gun. In attempting to repair it, after another hit, he was killed.

• 
  General Orders No. 44, War Department, 1919
  

Home Town: Point, Louisiana

Owens, Ellis, Jr.

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Ellis Owens, Jr., Sergeant, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 3d Trench Mortar Battery, 3d Division, A.E.F., near Mezy, France, July 15, 1918. When an advanced position of his battery was penetrated by the enemy in greatly superior numbers, Sergeant Owens, with utter disregard of his personal safety, voluntarily securing a motor truck, drove it to the battery position through an exposed area heavily swept by enemy artillery and machine gun fire, and, although he himself was severely injured, succeeded in rescuing and removing to safety a wounded officer and several wounded enlisted men.

• 
  Decorations U.S. Army, Supplement IV, 1940
  

Home Town: Slatington, Pennsylvania

Owens, Frank A.

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Frank A. Owens, First Lieutenant (Infantry), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 4th Infantry Regiment, 3d Division, A.E.F., near Les Evaux, France, July 13, 1918. After several unsuccessful attempts had been made to get patrols across the Marne River at night, Lieutenant Owens, with two soldiers, crossed in daylight and remained on the enemy side throughout the day.

• 
  General Orders No. 32, War Department, 1919
  

Home Town: Charlotte, North Carolina

Owens, Gilbert

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Gilbert Owens, Sergeant, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company M, 9th Infantry Regiment, 2d Division, A.E.F., near Medeah Ferme, France, October 3 - 5, 1918. Suffering from three severe scalp wounds, Sergeant Owens remained with his company, and, for two days performed his duties under intense artillery and machine-gun fire, until sent to the hospital completely exhausted.

• 
  General Orders 81, War Department, 1919
  

Home Town: Tyrone, Pennsylvania

Owens, John J.

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to John J. Owens, First Lieutenant (Infantry), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 109th Infantry Regiment, 28th Division, A.E.F., at Fismette, France, August 12 - 19, 1918. While occupying the town with his company, and although it was continuously under shellfire, machine-gun fire, and deluged with gas, Lieutenant Owens displayed the highest order of courage, resolution, and leadership in holding the town against repeated attacks for six days, and though badly gassed remained with it until the company was relieved.

• 
  General Orders No. No. 49, War Department, 1922
  

Home Town: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

*Owens, John T.

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to John T. Owens, Second Lieutenant (Infantry), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 315th Infantry Regiment, 79th Division, A.E.F., near Verdun, France, November 4, 1918. After locating three machine-gun positions. Lieutenant Owens put one of them out of action with an automatic rifle by killing the gunners and forcing the carriers to abandon the gun. He was killed by machine-gun fire while reorganizing his company after a local counterattack.

• 
  General Orders No. 37, War Department, 1919
  

Home Town: Hartford, Connecticut

*Owens, Teddy

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Teddy Owens, Bugler, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company D, 358th Infantry Regiment, 90th Division, A.E.F., during the St. Mihiel offensive, France, September 14, 1918. Bugler Owens, with four other men, volunteered to cross a valley to the woods opposite and silence machine guns which had held up the advance of his company. In the face of heavy enemy fire this small group accomplished its mission, thus enabling the company to cross the valley without further loss. He was killed in the performance of this act.

• 
  General Orders No. 72, War Department, 1920
  

Home Town: Fort Towson, Oklahoma

Paauwe, Martin J.

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Martin J. Paauwe, Corporal, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company K, 126th Infantry Regiment, 32d Division, A.E.F., near St. Georges, France, October 14, 1918. After the advance of his platoon had been stopped by severe fire from an enemy machine-gun nest, Corporal Paauwe, assisted by another soldier, reorganized the platoon and placed it under cover. Corporal Paauwe and his companion then charged the enemy machine-gun nest and captured it, together with one officer and twenty men.

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

Home Town: Grand Rapids, Michigan

*Pacchiasotti, Ameda

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Ameda Pacchiasotti, Private, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company M, 7th Infantry Regiment, 3d Division, A.E.F., near Cierges, France, October 5, 1918. When his company was halted by heavy machine-gun fire from the front, Private Pacchiasotti exposed himself to heavy fire and advanced to attack the enemy position. He was killed in the attack, but his example so inspired his comrades that they continued on and captured the enemy machine-gun position.

• 
  General Orders No. 60, War Department, 1920
  

Home Town: McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania

*Packard, William L.

Citation: