World War I last Names h q compiled and Edited By

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Thomas Kenny, Sergeant, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company H, 195th Infantry Regiment, 27th Division, A.E.F., near St. Souplet, France, October 17, 1918. While patrolling alone in advance of the line, Sergeant Kenny discovered a German officer directing a detachment in establishing machine-gun posts. He immediately opened fire, killing one and forcing the others to surrender. Later, reinforced by the remainder of his squad, Sergeant Kenny captured 34 of the enemy, including seven officers.

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  General Orders No. 23, War Department, 1919
  

Home Town: New York, New York

Kenoyer, John

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to John Kenoyer, Private, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company E, 137th Infantry Regiment, 35th Division, A.E.F., near Baulny, France, September 28, 1918. Having previously made several trips to the rear with wounded comrades under heavy shell fire, Private Kenoyer, with another litter-bearer, after making three attempts, succeeded in reaching their battalion commander, who lay wounded under heavy machine-gun fire, and carried him back to safety.

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  General Orders 95, War Department, 1919
  

Home Town: Hutchinson, Kansas

Kent, Walter J.

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Walter J. Kent, Private First Class, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Sanitary Detachment, 105th Infantry Regiment (Attached), 27th Division, A.E.F., near St. Souplet, France, October 17, 1918. With splendid courage and devotion to duty and without thought for his own safety, Private Kent cared for 40 wounded men of his command, at all times exposed to terrific machine-gun and high-explosive shell fire. He continued his aid until he himself was severely wounded while attempting to obtain stretchers with which to move the more serious cases. His remarkable courage and devotion to his comrades inspired every man of his command.

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  General Orders No. 9, War Department, 1923
  

Home Town: Whitestone, New York

Kenyon, Theodore S.

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Theodore S. Kenyon, Captain (Infantry), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 306th Infantry Regiment, 77th Division, A.E.F., in the Forest of Argonne, France, September 27, 1918. Captain Kenyon displayed exceptional qualities of leadership and gallantry in action while leading his company against a counterattack of the enemy in superior numbers. Later, although three times wounded, he remained with his command.

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  General Orders No. 21, War Department, 1919
  

Home Town: New York, New York

Kepner, William E.

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to William E. Kepner, Captain (Infantry), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 4th Infantry Regiment, 3d Division, A.E.F., near Cunel, France, October 5 - 6, 1918. While in command of a battalion. Captain Kepner personally led one company of his command in an attack on a woods occupied by a company of German machine-gunners. He was the first man to enter the woods and later when part of the attacking company was held up by flanking machine-gun fire, he, with a patrol of three men, encircled this machine-gun and after a hard hand-to-hand fight, put the gun out of action.

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  General Orders No. 44, War Department, 1919
  

Home Town: Kokomo, Indiana

Kerr, Alwyn A.

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Alwyn A. Kerr, Private, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company F, 114th Infantry Regiment, 29th Division, A.E.F., near Bois- de-Ormont, France, October 13, 1918. While on guard duty in the front line Private Kerr saw four of the enemy approaching through the thick fog. Without hesitation, he gave the alarm and charged them, capturing the entire number, after determined resistance.

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  General Orders No. 35, War Department, 1919
  

Home Town: Detroit, Michigan

Kerr, Mark E.

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Mark E. Kerr, Private First Class, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Section No. 647, Ambulance Service, A.E.F., near Fleville and St, Juvin, France, October 11 - 13, 1918. After 36 hours of continuous firing over heavily shelled roads, Private Kerr upon his own initiative was the first to establish liaison with an advanced dressing station which had been isolated by the explosion of a tank trap. To do this he lifted his car across the mine crater with the aid of some infantrymen, and for eight hours thereafter drove his ambulance through a heavy bombardment of high-explosive and gas shells between the mine crater and the dressing station. During this period his car was pierced repeatedly by shell fragments two of his patients receiving additional wounds. Two days later when the infantry had made a further advance his car was again the first to establish liaison with an advanced dressing station on the outskirts of St. Juvin.

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

Home Town: Fellows, California

Kerr, Roland M.

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Roland M. Kerr, Corporal, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company M, 111th Infantry Regiment, 28th Division, A.E.F., near Fismette, France, August 11, 1918. Corporal Kerr volunteered to carry a severely wounded soldier to a dressing station across a bridge subjected to intense enemy fire. With three other soldiers, he started across the bridge carrying the wounded man. One stretcher bearer was killed and another wounded, but Corporal Kerr continued with the wounded soldier and after reaching the dressing station returned and rescued the stretcher bearer, wounded on the bridge.

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  General Orders 64, War Department, 1919
  

Home Town: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Kerwin, Joseph N.

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Joseph N. Kerwin, Sergeant First Class, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company F, 316th Engineers, 91st Division, A.E.F., at Audenarde, Belgium, November 1, 1918. Sergeant Kerwin volunteered to accompany an officer and three other soldiers on a reconnaissance patrol of the city of Audenarde. Entering under heavy shell fire, the party reconnoitered the city for seven hours, while it was still being patrolled by the enemy, and advanced two kilometers in front of our own outposts and beyond those of the enemy.

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  General Orders No. 1, War Department, 1919
  

Home Town: Salt Creek, Wyoming

*Keske, Clarence E.

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Clarence E. Keske, Private, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company M, 127th Infantry Regiment, 32d Division, A.E.F., near Gesnes, France, October 14, 1918. When his battalion was held up and suffering heavy losses from flanking fire of four enemy machine-gun nests, Private Keske volunteered and advanced to a position 250 yards ahead of the line and helped to establish a position neutralizing the enemy fire, which enabled the battalion to re-form. He remained in this advanced position, inspiring by his courageous example his comrades to maintain the position, although under terrific machine-gun fire from three sides and hand grenades, until he was killed.

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  General Orders No. No. 56, War Department, 1922
  

Home Town: Beaver Dam, Wisconsin

Kessler, Albert E.

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Albert E. Kessler, Private, British Expeditionary Forces, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 11th Battalion, Essex Regiment, British Expeditionary Forces, south of Bazuel, France, October 23, 1918. Private Kessler delivered an important message to units of the front lines. En route he was exposed to heavy enemy fire, but he continued until he had accomplished his mission. By his fearless conduct he enabled the companies to take up new positions without delay. This action took place when fighting alongside the American 27th Division.

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  General Orders No. 60, War Department, 1920
  

Home Town: England

*Kessler, Edward M.

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Edward M. Kessler, Corporal, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company F, 353d Infantry Regiment, 89th Division, A.E.F., near Flirey, France, September 12, 1918. When his platoon was held up by heavy machine-gun fire in front of the Bois-de-Mort Mare, Corporal Kessler advanced with his squad and succeeded in putting the machine guns out of action without losing a man. Farther on in the woods, two more machine guns were encountered, firing from a dugout. This soldier went out alone and silenced the guns with hand grenades, thereby facilitating the advance of the entire company.

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  General Orders 87, War Department, 1919
  

Home Town: Cheney, Kansas

Kessler, Henry O.

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Henry O. Kessler, Private, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company C, 308th Infantry Regiment, 77th Division, A.E.F., near Ville Savoye, France, August 23, 1918. Private Kessler was the first to respond to a call for volunteers to rescue a wounded soldier who had fallen, severely wounded, while on a patrol. Crawling forward through intense machine-gun and artillery fire, he assisted in the rescue, being severely wounded while engaged in the undertaking.

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  General Orders No. 32, War Department, 1919
  

Home Town: Brooklyn, New York

Ketchem, Harold

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Harold Ketchem, Private, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Machine-Gun Company, 117th Infantry Regiment, 30th Division, A.E.F., near Bellicourt, France, September 29, 1918. Private Ketchem, a runner, carried many messages under heavy fire. At one time when his platoon was held up by machine-gun fire he, with another soldier, refused to take cover, but delivered effective rifle fire until the machine gun was silenced, thereby enabling his platoon to continue its advance.

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  General Orders No. 37, War Department, 1919
  

Home Town: Alexandria, South Dakota

*Kiah, Martin J.

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Martin J. Kiah, Corporal, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company C, 1st Engineers, 1st Division, A.E.F., near Soissons, France, July 20, 1918. When volunteers were called for by his company commander, Corporal Kiah volunteered and rescued wounded comrades from a barrage. Although wounded in the performance of these heroic deeds, he continued until killed by shell fire.

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  General Orders No. No. 124, War Department, 1918
  

Home Town: Bay City, Michigan

Kibler, John T.

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to John T. Kibler, First Lieutenant (Infantry), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 23d Infantry Regiment, 2d Division, A.E.F., near St. Etienne-a-Arnes, France, October 3 - 4, 1918. Although severely gassed by a gas shell which burst in the trench beside him, Lieutenant Kibler retained command of his company and led it forward in a difficult night attack, penetrating the enemy's line to a depth of 2 kilometers. Throughout the night he and his men were subjected to a deadly cross fire from enemy machine guns and at daybreak a strong counterattack was launched against him. Heroically leading a small force against the flank of the attacking party, Lieutenant Kibler succeeded in routing a greatly superior force. He courageously continued to lead his men until so weakened by the effects of the gas that he lost consciousness.

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

Home Town: Chestertown, Maryland

Kidd, Charles M.

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Charles M. Kidd, Corporal, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company E, 316th Infantry Regiment, 79th Division, A.E.F., near Verdun, France, November 10, 1918. While his company was being held up by machine-gun fire. Corporal Kidd led his squad, in spite of a severe leg wound, against the machine-gun, killing the gunner, and clearing the way for the advance of his company.

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  General Orders No. 37, War Department, 1919
  

Home Town: New Freedom, Pennsylvania

Kidd, Clifford C.

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Clifford C. Kidd, Private First Class, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Machine-Gun Company, 354th Infantry Regiment, 89th Division, A.E.F., near Remonville, France, November 1, 1918. Private Kidd displayed exceptional bravery in carrying his machine gun through heavy fire ahead of the infantry front line to a point only thirty yards from six enemy machine guns which defended a hill. Despite the intense grenade and machine-gun fire which was directed at him, he maintained such effective fire that the hostile guns were put out of action and the infantry advance thereupon resumed.

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  General Orders 95, War Department, 1919
  

Home Town: Denver, Colorado

*Kidder, Hugh P.

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Hugh P. Kidder, Second Lieutenant, U.S. Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism while serving with the Seventy-Eighth Company, Sixth Regiment (Marines), 2d Division, A.E.F., in action near Blanc Mont, France, October 2 - 3, 1918. On the morning of October 2, Second Lieutenant Kidder led a small patrol into enemy trenches and captured two strong machine-gun positions which were menacing his company. On October 3, with his platoon, Second Lieutenant Kidder attacked and captured four machine-gun nests, and many prisoners, after which he went to the aid of two of his wounded men. While attempting to better his position in the face of heavy machine-gun and artillery fire he was killed.

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  General Order No. 37, War Department, 1919
  

Home Town: Minneapolis, Minnesota

Kidwell, Herbert H.

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Herbert H. Kidwell, Sergeant, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company D, 7th Infantry Regiment, 3d Division, A.E.F., near Cierges, France, October 4, 1918. When the patrol of which he was a member, whose mission it was to establish communication with the 4th Infantry, encountered heavy enemy machine-gun and artillery fire from all sides, it became necessary to take shelter in a shell hole. After two other members of the patrol had been unable to advance, Sergeant Kidwell alone, with exceptional courage and coolness, unflinchingly went forward through the enemy fire and succeeded in completing the mission.

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  General Orders No. No. 4, War Department, 1936
  

Home Town: Dacan, Tennessee

Kielpinski, Vincent P.

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Vincent P. Kielpinski, Sergeant, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company K, 127th Infantry Regiment, 32d Division, A.E.F., near Juvigny, France, August 31, 1918. When his company had become disorganized and his company commander gassed, Sergeant Kielpinski carried orders under intense fire and assisted in reorganizing the company. Though he was wounded the next day and ordered to the hospital, he returned from the dressing station to his company and continued in action.

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  General Orders 98, War Department, 1919
  

Home Town: Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Kilbourne, Charles Evans

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Charles Evans Kilbourne, Colonel (General Staff Corps), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving as Chief of Staff, 89th Division, A.E.F., near Thiaucourt, France, September 12, 1918. Colonel Kilbourne as Chief of Staff exposed himself to artillery and machine-gun fire during the advance of his division, exercising cool judgment and strong determination in reorganizing the lines and getting troops forward to the objective.

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  General Orders No. No. 143, War Department, 1918
  

Home Town: Portland, Oregon

Kilby, Robert E. L.

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Robert E. L. Kilby, Private First Class, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company K, 9th Infantry Regiment, 2d Division, A.E.F., near St. Mihiel, France, September 14, 1918. Private Kilby volunteered to go with his company commander to reconnoiter a German trench before a contemplated advance. They encountered a German officer with seven men in the trench. Private Kilby successfully cleaned the trench and saved his captain's life by his coolness and exceptional courage.

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  General Orders No. 46, War Department, 1919
  

Home Town: Laurel Bloomery, Tennessee

Kilcher, Elmer J.

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Elmer J. Kilcher, Private First Class, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company D, 130th Infantry Regiment, 33d Division, A.E.F., at Fresnes-en-Woevre, France, November 10, 1918. Private Kilcher voluntarily returned through the enemy's barrage after a raid to rescue another soldier who had been wounded and was himself wounded as a result of his self-sacrificing effort.

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  General Orders No. 23, War Department, 1919
  

Home Town: Waucoma, Iowa

Kilfoyle, Frank J.

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Frank J. Kilfoyle, Sergeant, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company M, 139th Infantry Regiment, 35th Division, A.E.F., at Varennes, France, September 26, 1918. Under heavy machine-gun and artillery fire, Sergeant Kilfoyle led an automatic rifle squad into Varennes and captured an enemy machine-gun nest, which had been inflicting heavy casualties on our forces, killing or wounding all the members of the crew, including a German major. Two days later he again displayed skillful leadership in organizing his platoon against an enemy counterattack, which was successfully repulsed.

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  General Orders 95, War Department, 1919
  

Home Town: St. Joseph, Missouri

*Kilibarda, Steve P.

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Steve P. Kilibarda, Private First Class, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Battery C, 10th Field Artillery, 2d Division, A.E.F., during the Champagne-Marne defensive, France, July 15, 1918. During the bombardment Private Kilibarda's left arm was rendered useless by a fragment of a shell, but despite this wound, he continued bravely to serve with his battery under intense shell fire even though it was necessary for him to hold the shells between his legs and fuse them with his right hand.

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  General Orders No. 8, War Department, 1935
  

Home Town: Council Bluffs, Iowa

Killoran, John

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to John Killoran, First Lieutenant (Field Artillery), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 20th Field Artillery, 5th Division, A.E.F., near Thiaucourt, France, September 17, September 26, and November 2, 1918. During the St. Mihiel offensive while serving as regimental munitions officer, Lieutenant Killoran personally directed the supply of ammunition to the firing batteries. With utter disregard of his own personal danger he conducted the ammunition trucks through heavily shelled and gassed sections of the road. The fortitude and courage displayed by him were an inspiration to the members of the command.

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  General Orders No. No. 1, War Department, 1934
  

Home Town: Brighton, Massachusetts

Kilmer, Everett A.

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Everett A. Kilmer, Private, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company M, 16th Infantry Regiment, 1st Division, A.E.F., near Charpentry, France, October 3, 1918. Private Kilmer voluntarily accompanied three other soldiers and went forward under heavy enemy fire and rescued a wounded comrade who had fallen in advance of our lines.

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  General Orders 81, War Department, 1919
  

Home Town: Seneca, Illinois

Kilpatrick, Lloyd

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Lloyd Kilpatrick, Private First Class, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company C, 21st Machine-Gun Battalion, 7th Division, A.E.F., near Vieville-en-Haye, France, November 1, 1918. Private Kilpatrick acted as a runner during offensive operations and under severest barrages and carried important messages to and from the front lines.

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  General Orders No. 37, War Department, 1919
  

Home Town: Freemansburg, Pennsylvania

Kilroy, Joseph F.

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Joseph F. Kilroy, First Sergeant, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company K, 315th Infantry Regiment, 79th Division, A.E.F., near Verdun, France, November 4, 1918. Sergeant Kilroy led a patrol of five men to flank a machine-gun nest, but heavy machine-gun fire caused the loss of the other members of the patrol. He picked up the automatic rifle of a fallen comrade, and by his effective and severe fire rendered valuable aid in breaking up a local counterattack, which was forming.

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  General Orders No. 37, War Department, 1919