World War I last Names h q compiled and Edited By

Home Town: Cambridge, Massachusetts

*Knowlton, Raymond F.

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Raymond F. Knowlton, Private First Class, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Battery E, 101st Field Artillery, 26th Division, A.E.F., north of Verdun, France, October 21, 1918. With great heroism and devotion to duty and with utter disregard for his personal safety, Private Knowlton rushed forward to the aid of a wounded soldier who was lying exposed to terrific enemy fire. While so engaged he was hit by enemy shell fire and mortally wounded, dying shortly thereafter. The superb devotion to duty displayed by Private Knowlton greatly inspired and encouraged the men of his battery.

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  General Orders No. No. 16, War Department, 1923
  

Home Town: Danvers, Massachusetts

Knox, William L.

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to William L. Knox, Sergeant, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company L, 102d Infantry Regiment, 26th Division, A.E.F., near Seicheprey, France, April 20, 1918. His platoon having been relieved from its position in the front lines, Sergeant Knox remained with the relieving platoon, which was without a commissioned officer, organized and maintained its position during a severe attack by enemy infantry, bombers, and machine-gun fire. Though his platoon was entirely surrounded and cut off from support, and he himself twice wounded by shrapnel and grenades, he led his men against the enemy, broke through their lines, and established contact with the units on his right. His coolness, leadership, and outstanding courage under intense enemy fire greatly inspired his men and spurred them on to great endeavors in the face of vastly superior numbers.

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  General Orders No. No. 14, War Department, 1923
  

Home Town: South Coventry, Connecticut

*Kobernat, James F.

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to James F. Kobernat, Private, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company M, 307th Infantry Regiment, 77th Division, A.E.F., in the Forest of Argonne, France, October 11, 1918. Private Kobernat succeeded in establishing an automatic rifle post under heavy machine-gun fire. In the face of this heavy fire he continually advanced until he was killed.

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  General Orders No. No. 142, War Department, 1918
  

Home Town: Hill City, Minnesota

Koch, Arthur H.

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Arthur H. Koch, Corporal, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company A, 357th Infantry Regiment, 90th Division, A.E.F., near Fey-en-Haye, France, September 12, 1918. With the help of only one other soldier corporal Koch successfully attacked a German machine-gun nest from the flank, killing 7 Germans, wounding 1, and capturing 3 machine guns.

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  General Orders 98, War Department, 1919
  

Home Town: St. Paul, Minnesota

*Kochanik, John

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to John Kochanik, Corporal, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company K, 127th Infantry Regiment, 32d Division, A.E.F., near Fismes, France, August 4, 1918. Ordering his squad to take cover, Corporal Kochanik, single-handed, rushed an enemy machine gun and killed the two Germans manning it. As he was turning the captured gun on the enemy, this courageous soldier was killed by a sniper.

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  General Orders 95, War Department, 1919
  

Home Town: Milwaukee, Wisconsin

*Kochensparger, James

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to James Kochensparger, Sergeant, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company F, 166th Infantry Regiment, 42d Division, A.E.F., northwest of Chateau-Thierry, France, July 29, 1918. Sergeant Kochensparger was killed on July 29, 1918, when establishing an outpost beyond the edge of Seringes-et-Nesles, which had just been captured by our forces. Throughout the attack he led his section of automatic riflemen with the greatest gallantry, giving an example of courage and bravery that was an inspiration to the men of his command.

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  General Orders No. 99, War Department, 1918
  

Home Town: Circleville, Ohio

Kochli, Fred

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Fred Kochli, First Lieutenant (Infantry), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 146th Infantry Regiment, 37th Division, A.E.F., near Montfaucon, France, September 27, 1918. When the advance of the 37th Division was temporarily halted by terrific enemy machine-gun fire, Lieutenant Kochli volunteered to command a patrol and before dawn advanced for several hundred yards against a most stubborn hostile resistance, attacked and captured an enemy machine-gun company consisting of 14 machine guns, 3 officers, and 23 enlisted men. Leaving the captured guns and prisoners with his patrol, Lieutenant Kochli, with two noncommissioned officers, further advanced to Montfaucon in the face of heavy machine-gun fire and captured three 77-mm field pieces and two light machine guns, thereby aiding materially the advance of the 37th Division.

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  General Orders No. 68, War Department, 1920
  

Home Town: Alliance, Ohio

Koehler, Kurt H. A.

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Kurt H. A. Koehler, Private, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company A, 1st Engineers, 1st Division, A.E.F., near Verdun, France, October 9, 1918. Operating without assistance a machine gun which he secured by crawling out ahead of our lines, Private Koehler successfully resisted a greatly superior force of the enemy, killing several and causing the rest to retreat. When wounds in the shoulder made it impossible for him to further operate the gun he rendered it unserviceable with a pick handle before retiring and reporting to his company commander.

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  General Orders No. 37, War Department, 1919
  

Home Town: Hillsdale, Oregon

Koeppel, Oscar

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Oscar Koeppel, Captain (Infantry), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 166th Infantry Regiment, 42d Division, A.E.F., near Seringes, France, July 27, 1918. After being severely wounded while leading his men through an intense barrage, Captain Koeppel refused to leave his company until they had been established on the front line and all orders and instructions turned over to the next in command.

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  General Orders No. 26, War Department, 1919
  

Home Town: Liden Heights, Ohio

Koerper, Frank P.

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Frank P. Koerper, Corporal, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Headquarters Company, 131st Infantry Regiment, 33d Division, A.E.F., near Gercourt, France, September 26, 1918. Under heavy machine-gun fire Corporal Koerper crept up to a church and captured four of the enemy who were operating machine-guns from this building.

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  General Orders No. 46, War Department, 1919
  

Home Town: Chicago, Illinois

Kofmehl, William H.

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to William H. Kofmehl, Second Lieutenant (Infantry), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company C, 15th Machine-Gun Battalion, 5th Division, A.E.F., north of Verdun, France, October 21, 1918. After his platoon had suffered heavy casualties in the Bois-des-Rappes from machine-gun fire he located the enemy guns, and, rallying a handful of his men, charged the enemy positions, capturing 37 prisoners. After getting his own machine guns in position Lieutenant Kofmehl, seeing that one of his gunners had been wounded, operated the gun himself, setting an excellent example to his men.

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  General Orders No. 59, War Department, 1919
  

Home Town: Rapid City, South Dakota

Kogler, John M.

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to John M. Kogler, Private, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Medical Detachment, 26th Infantry Regiment (Attached), 1st Division, A.E.F., near Soissons, France, July 18, 1918. In spite of the fact that he had been severely wounded himself, Private Kogler refused to be relieved, and continued to treat wounded under fire for two days.

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  General Orders No. 15, War Department, 1919
  

Home Town: Baltimore, Maryland

Kohn, Marian

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Marian Kohn, Corporal, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company B, 8th Machine-Gun Battalion, 3d Division, A.E.F., during the Argonne-Meuse offensive, France, October 5 - 6, 1918. Seeing his platoon commander and platoon sergeant buried by a shell explosion, Corporal Kohn left his trench, and, in the face of perilous machine-gun and shell fire, single-handed rescued his comrades from the caved-in trench.

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  General Orders No. 44, War Department, 1919
  

Home Town: Toledo, Ohio

Kohn, Mat A.

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Mat A. Kohn, Corporal, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company K, 145th Infantry Regiment, 37th Division, A.E.F., near Hearne, Belgium, November 4, 1918. Corporal Kohn went through heavy shell and machine-gun fire for a distance of 100 yards and carried a wounded comrade to safety.

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  General Orders No. 59, War Department, 1919
  

Home Town: Wabasha, Minnesota

Koijane, Frank A.

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Frank A. Koijane, Sergeant, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company G, 132d Infantry Regiment, 33d Division, A.E.F., at Hamel, Belgium, July 4, 1918. While digging in at his final objective Sergeant Koijane came under fire from a hostile machine gun in a sunken road 200 yards to the right front. With Lieutenant Yagle and two Australian soldiers, he rushed the position and captured the gun and eight prisoners.

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  General Orders No. No. 14, War Department, 1920
  

Home Town: Chicago, Illinois

Koleman, Norman

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Norman Koleman, Sergeant, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Battery C, 119th Field Artillery, 32d Division, A.E.F., near Les Pres Farm, France, August 9, 1918. Sergeant Koleman had just returned with his gun crew to their dugout, after maintaining fire for twelve hours, under heavy bombardment, when a shell of large caliber struck directly over the dugout, killing or wounding the entire crew. Regardless of the fact that he himself had been wounded in nine places, Sergeant Koleman immediately walked and crawled to the nearest helter to secure aid for this men.

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  General Orders 98, War Department, 1919
  

Home Town: Lansing, Michigan

Kolonoczyk, Wasyl

(First Award)

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Wasyl Kolonoczyk, Private, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company C, 107th Infantry Regiment, 27th Division, A.E.F., near St. Souplet, France, October 18, 1918. Private Kolonoczyk, under heavy shell and machine-gun fire, left the shelter of his trench and, going forward under a thick smoke screen, single-handed captured between 30 and 40 German prisoners. His conspicuous gallantry and bravery upon this occasion showed a heroics disregard for his own safety, which was a splendid example for all.

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  General Orders No. 46, War Department, 1919
  

Home Town: Cohoes, New York

Kolonoczyk, Wasyl

(Second Award)

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross (First Oak Leaf Cluster) is presented to Wasyl Kolonoczyk, Private, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company C, 107th Infantry Regiment, 27th Division, A.E.F., near St. Souplet, France, October 18, 1918. After the advance of his company had been stopped by strong hostile machine-gun fire, Private Kolonoczyk, with three companions, advanced far ahead of the front line to attack an enemy position located in a large farmhouse. By skillful maneuvering in the broad daylight they covered all entrances to the house and forced the surrender of the entire force of the enemy, numbering 36 men and two officers. During the exploit they killed two Germans, who attempted to take cover in the cellar.

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  General Orders No. 46, War Department, 1919
  

Home Town: Cohoes, New York

*Kolwyck, Oren C.

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Oren C. Kolwyck, Private, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company M, 118th Infantry Regiment, 30th Division, A.E.F., near Villeret, France, September 27, 1918. Private Kolwyck displayed marked bravery as battalion runner, fearlessly exposing himself to heavy fire to deliver important messages. Volunteering to deliver a message which necessitated his crossing a barrage of high explosive, shrapnel and gas shells, he was mortally wounded.

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  General Orders 87, War Department, 1919
  

Home Town: Humboldt, Tennessee

*Koon, Carter R.

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Carter R. Koon, Private, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company B, 1st Engineers, 1st Division, A.E.F., south of Soissons, France, July 20, 1918. Private Koon volunteered and obtained the permission of his company commander to pass through an area then under heavy shell fire for the purpose of recovering wounded comrades. He made two trips successfully, but on his third trip he was mortally wounded.

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  General Orders No. 15, War Department, 1919
  

Home Town: Seattle, Washington

Koon, Ethen S.

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Ethen S. Koon, First Lieutenant (Infantry), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 119th Infantry Regiment, 30th Division, A.E.F., near Ypres, Belgium, August 31, 1918. Ignoring his severe wound, suffered in the advance of his platoon against the enemy south of Ypres, Lieutenant Koon remained with his men until all the wounded had been evacuated, and personally directed the reorganization of his position until ordered to the rear by his commanding officer.

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  General Orders No. 44, War Department, 1919
  

Home Town: Asheville, North Carolina

Kopp, Henry

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Henry Kopp, Private First Class, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company G, 28th Infantry Regiment, 1st Division, A.E.F., near St. Mihiel, France, September 12, 1918. Private Kopp displayed excellent courage in capturing a machine gun, which he turned upon an adjoining trench, forcing 20 of the enemy to surrender.

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  General Orders No. 46, War Department, 1919
  

Home Town: Brooklyn, New York

Korgis, Hercules E.

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Hercules E. Korgis, Sergeant, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company L, 23d Infantry Regiment, 2d Division, A.E.F., near Mont Blanc, France, October 3 - 9, 1918, and near Letanne, France, November 5, 1918. While leading a small patrol in an endeavor to establish liaison with the French troops on the right, during an attack, Sergeant Korgis's patrol was subjected to short-range machine-gun fire from two enemy guns. The fire halted their advance, whereupon Sergeant Korgis designated a few men to fire upon the enemy from the front, while he led the remainder in a flank attack upon the enemy, charging the post, killing the enemy crew of eight with grenades, and capturing their guns. On November 5, when an attack section became disorganized due to surprise fire from enemy machine guns, Sergeant Korgis fearlessly exposed himself to this fire and rushed to the "panic stricken" section and conducted them to cover, reorganized them, and subsequently led them in an attack upon the enemy position.

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  General Orders No. No. 46, War Department, 1920
  

Home Town: Worcester, Massachusetts

Korman, Frank A.

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Frank A. Korman, Private, U.S. Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism while serving with the Sixteenth Company, Fifth Regiment (Marines), 2d Division, A.E.F., in action near St. Etienne, France, October 4 - 6, 1918. When volunteers were called for to rescue another member of his company who was severely wounded, Private Korman responded and, in plain view of the enemy, carried his wounded comrade to shelter through heavy machine-gun fire.

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  General Order No. 37, War Department, 1919
  

Home Town: Roxbury, Massachusetts

Korn, Walter S.

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Walter S. Korn, Sergeant, 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. Sergeant Korn continued to lead his platoon in attack on the Hindenburg line after he had received a wound from shrapnel. He was later knocked down by a rock thrown by a shell explosion, twice more wounded by shrapnel, but continued to lead his platoon until he received a severe wound, which necessitated his evacuation. He personally captured two prisoners in the attack.

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  General Orders No. 37, War Department, 1919
  

Home Town: Leetonia, Ohio

Korth, Herman

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Herman Korth, Sergeant, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company D, 121st Machine-Gun Battalion, 32d Division, A.E.F., near Juvigny, north of Soissons, France, August 31, 1918. Under heavy fire from machine guns and artillery, Sergeant Korth crawled to the crest of a hill, setting stakes to line our artillery on enemy machine-gun emplacements. He remained in observation in this perilous position for half an hour, signaling back when our own troops were endangered by the fire of the batteries.

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  General Orders No. 20, War Department, 1919
  

Home Town: Fond du Lac, Wisconsin

*Korzysko, George

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to George Korzysko, Private, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company H, 132d Infantry Regiment, 33d Division, A.E.F., near Forges, France, September 26, 1918. During the action in Forges wood, Private Korzysko, single-handed, attacked and captured several machine guns, killing the gunners with hand grenades. It was while he was thus engaged that he was killed.

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  General Orders No. 37, War Department, 1919
  

Home Town: Chicago, Illinois

Kos, Max S.

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Max S. Kos, Private, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company K, 47th Infantry Regiment, 4th Division, A.E.F., near St. Thibault, France, August 8 - 9, 1918. Private Kos volunteered to patrol the valley along the railroad tracks north of St. Thibault for the purpose of locating machine-gun nests. He was wounded early in the morning, but he remained in the valley until the next night, securing the information for which he was sent, and killing two Germans.

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  General Orders No. 15, War Department, 1919
  

Home Town: Indianapolis, Indiana

Kossman, Adolph

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Adolph Kossman, Corporal, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company C, 316th Infantry Regiment, 79th Division, A.E.F., on Hill 378, near Verdun, France, November 5, 1918. Corporal Kossman with two other men occupied a small shell hole on the front line, there being no other troops near except 15 men who occupied a large shell hole a few yards to their right. The morning was foggy and about 60 Germans crept through the lines, outflanked the men in the large shell hole, disarmed them, and ordered them to stand fast. Corporal Kossman and his two companions immediately opened rapid fire, killing six of the Germans and completely routing the others, thereby rescuing their 15 comrades from the hands of the enemy.

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  General Orders No. No. 3, War Department, 1929
  

Home Town: Wyomissing, Pennsylvania

Kostak, Frank J.

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Frank J. Kostak, Private, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company G, 131st Infantry Regiment, 33d Division, A.E.F., at Chipilly Ridge, France, August 9, 1918. Single-handed, Private Kostak, with great gallantry, attacked a machine-gun position, capturing two machine guns and seven prisoners.

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

Home Town: Chicago, Illinois

Kouts, William M.

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to William M. Kouts, Sergeant, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company D, 261st Infantry Regiment, 91st Division, A.E.F., near Gesnes, France, September 26, 1918. Sergeant Kouts, together with two other soldiers, captured three enemy machine guns and 20 prisoners.

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  General Orders No. 37, War Department, 1919
  

Home Town: Camas, Washington

Kowalkowski, Leo

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Leo Kowalkowski, 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 Kowalkowski, 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.