World War I last Names h q compiled and Edited By

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

Home Town: New York, New York

Kaylor, Frank E.

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Frank E. Kaylor, Private, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company D, 166th Infantry Regiment, 42d Division, A.E.F., northwest of Chateau-Thierry, France, July 27, 1918. After he and a comrade located a hostile machine-gun in a clump of trees l500 meters north of a chateau which their platoon was holding east of Fere-en-Tardenois, they secured the permission of their platoon commander to attempt to force the enemy to abandon this position and advanced over open ground and in the face of fire. With their rifles they drove the enemy from their gun, killing one and wounding another.

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  General Orders No. No. 35, War Department, 1920
  

Home Town: Marion, Ohio

*Kayser, Alfred

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Alfred Kayser, Private, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company A, 7th Infantry Regiment, 3d Division, A.E.F., near Mont St. Pere, Marne, France, July 21, 1918. Private Kayser, with an automatic rifle, went forward in advance of our line and opened fire on an enemy machine-gun position in order to cover the flank attack of another platoon. Although mortally wounded, he continued to fire until the platoon had completed its flanking movement.

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  General Orders No. No. 19, War Department, 1920
  

Home Town: New York, New York

*Keachie, Edwin S.

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Edwin S. Keachie, Corporal, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Battery B, 5th Field Artillery, 1st Division, A.E.F., at Soissons, France, July 18 - 24, 1918. Corporal Keachie displayed unusual ability and courage by taking the place of officers who had been wounded and faithfully performing their duties while his battery position was under severe flanking fire. He continually exposed himself to violent bombardment until killed.

• 
  General Orders No. 35, War Department, 1919
  

Home Town: Detroit, Michigan

Kean, Robert Winthrop

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Robert Winthrop Kean, First Lieutenant (Field Artillery), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 15th Field Artillery, 2d Division, A.E.F., near Vierzy, France, July 18 & 19, 1918. First Lieutenant Kean accompanied two successive waves of infantry in the attack on Vierzy and Villemontoire, July 18, exposing himself with almost reckless disregard of the enemy’s heavy shell and machine-gun fire, secured valuable information for the artillery as to the location of our own and the enemy’s lines, and personally took command of an isolated 9th Infantry machine-gun detachment that had lost its officers by heavy fire. Lieutenant Kean on July 18 and 19 actually accompanied three successive waves of the 23d Infantry, the 9th Infantry, and an attack by French infantry without rest. His endurance and courage were exceptional and most inspiring upon this occasion, and upon all other occasions of attack by the 2d Division

• 
  General Orders 87, War Department, 1919
  

Home Town: New York, New York

Keane, Christopher W.

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Christopher W. Keane, Sergeant, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Medical Detachment, 131st Infantry Regiment (Attached), 33d Division, A.E.F., at Hamel, Belgium, July 4, 1918. Throughout the engagement Sergeant Keane displayed great gallantry and devotion to duty by treating the wounded in an area swept by machine-gun and artillery fire. When two stretcher bearers who were working with him were killed he impressed German prisoners into the service of carrying wounded to the aid station.

• 
  General Orders No. 99, War Department, 1918
  

Home Town: Chicago, Illinois

*Kearin, Edward J.

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Edward J. Kearin, Corporal, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company C, 165th Infantry Regiment, 42d Division, A.E.F., at Meurcy Farm, near Villers-sur-Fere, France, August 1, 1918. Corporal Kearin accompanied by another soldier advanced to attack an enemy machine-gun nest which was causing heavy losses to our troops. His companion having been wounded, Corporal Kearin with exceptional bravery fought his way back through an exposed area and brought his wounded companion to a place of safety.

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  General Orders No. 6, War Department, 1931
  

Home Town: Brooklyn, New York

Kearney, John J.

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to John J. Kearney, Private, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company B, 102d Infantry Regiment, 26th Division, A.E.F., at Marcheville, France, September 26, 1918. When liaison with the front line companies had been completely broken and several runners had failed to reach them, Private Kearney successfully carried a message through an intense machine-gun and artillery barrage, returning with important information

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

Home Town: Hartford, Connecticut

Kearns, Charlie F.

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Charlie F. Kearns, Private, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company E, 357th Infantry Regiment, 90th Division, A.E.F., near Fey-en-Haye, France, September 12, 1918. Private Kearns rushed machine-gun nests that were holding up the advance of his company, killed the crews with his automatic rifle, and captured the guns. He continued to render valiant service throughout the engagement until he was wounded by a shell fragment.

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

Home Town: Blackwell, Oklahoma

Kearns, Thomas W.

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Thomas W. Kearns, First Lieutenant (Infantry), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 47th Infantry Regiment, 4th Division, A.E.F., near Sergy, France, July 29 - 30, 1918. When a counterattack was impending, First Lieutenant Kearns successively carried 15 wounded men across a shell-swept area, in full view of the enemy, taking them to a place of safety and preventing them from being captured by the enemy. Later he reorganized groups of stragglers and led them into combat.

• 
  General Orders 71, War Department, 1919
  

Home Town: Boston, Massachusetts

Keating, James Alfred

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to James Alfred Keating, First Lieutenant (Air Service), U.S. Army Air Service, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 49th Squadron, British Expeditionary Forces (Attached), U.S. Army Air Service, A.E.F., in the skies over France during the months of July and August, 1918. On August 9, 1918, Lieutenant Keating bombed Falvy Bridge over 1,000 feet, obtaining a direct hit. On returning, his formation was attacked by enemy planes and a running fight ensued. By skillfully flying with exceptional coolness he enabled his observer to shoot two planes down in flames. On August 8, 1918, after bombing Bethincourt Bridge over 800 feet, obtaining a direct hit, he found 7 enemy planes attacking his formation from the rear. By maneuvering for position he enabled his observer to shoot one down in flames over Bethincourt. On July 17, 1918, he bombed Passy Bridge over 500 feet, destroying it just as a column of transport was passing. He then opened machine-gun fire on the troops in the vicinity, causing many casualties and great disorder. His exceptional courage and splendid bravery were a constant inspiration to the members of his command.

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  General Orders No. 9, War Department, 1923
  

Home Town: Chicago, Illinois

*Keating, William Joseph

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to William Joseph Keating, Captain (Infantry), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 114th Infantry Regiment, 29th Division, A.E.F., near Melleville Farm, north of Verdun, France, October 27, 1918. While he was in command of the machine-gun company of his regiment, and every available gunner had been killed or wounded, Captain Keating personally manned one of the guns and kept it in operation until killed.

• 
  General Orders No. 20, War Department, 1919
  

Home Town: Texas, Maryland

Keaton, Andy W.

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Andy W. Keaton, Private, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company G, 357th Infantry Regiment, 90th Division, A.E.F., near Fey- en-Haye, France, September 9 - 12, 1918. Becoming separated from his patrol, Private Keaton with another soldier attacked an enemy patrol and drove it off though he number of their opponents was estimated at 50. During the advance of September 12, north of Fey-en-Haye, Private Keaton went to the rescue of his battalion commander and another officer who were pocketed by the fire of a machine gun. He stalked the gun position and drove off the gunners.

• 
  General Orders No. 128, War Department, 1919
  

Home Town: Ozark, Arkansas

Kee, Sing

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Sing Kee, Private, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company G, 306th Infantry Regiment, 77th Division, A.E.F., near Mont Notre Dame, west of Fismes, France, August 14 - 15, 1918. Although seriously gassed during shelling by high-explosive and gas shells, Private Kee refused to be evacuated and continued, practically single-handed, by his own initiative, to operate the regimental message center relay station at Mont Notre Dame. Throughout this critical period he showed extraordinary heroism, high courage, and persistent devotion to duty, and totally disregarded all personal danger. By his determination he materially aided his regimental commander in communicating with the front line.

• 
  General Orders No. 99, War Department, 1918
  

Home Town: New York, New York

Keenan, John J.

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to John J. Keenan, Corporal, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company D, 55th Infantry Regiment, 7th Division, A.E.F., near Jaulny, France, November 8, 1918. With a detail of seven men, Corporal Keenan volunteered and went through severe artillery and machine-gun fire to bring in a platoon which had been cut off for five hours in front of a strongly fortified enemy position. Repeated efforts to reach the platoon during the day had failed, but Corporal Keenan and his party brought in the entire platoon, including several wounded men, among them the platoon commander.

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  General Orders No. 44, War Department, 1919
  

Home Town: Chicago, Illinois

Keenan, Joseph A.

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Joseph A. Keenan, Corporal, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company L, 315th Infantry Regiment, 79th Division, A.E.F., near Nantillois, France, September 29, 1918. When his platoon had been ordered to cover because of annihilating machine-gun and artillery fire, Corporal Keenan accompanied another soldier to the rescue of a comrade who was lying 300 yards distant. The journey was made through heavy and continuous fire, but Corporal Keenan, with his fellow soldier, succeeded in bringing their wounded comrade to safety.

• 
  General Orders No. 37, War Department, 1919
  

Home Town: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Keenan, Willis H.

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Willis H. Keenan, First Lieutenant (Medical Corps), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 369th Infantry Regiment (Attached), 93d Division, A.E.F., in the Champagne Sector, France, September 26 to October 1, 1918. Although suffering from illness, First Lieutenant Keenan remained on duty day and night throughout the engagement. When his battalion was in reserve, he voluntarily went forward to the assaulting battalions whose surgeons had been evacuated. In the attack on Sechault he exposed himself continuously to intense artillery and machine-gun fire while rendering first aid.

• 
  General Orders No. 37, War Department, 1919
  

Home Town: Coshocton, Ohio

Keene, George L.

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to George L. Keene, Corporal, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company K, 28th Infantry Regiment, 1st Division, A.E.F., near Soissons, France, July 18 - 19, 1918. Corporal Keene, then acting sergeant, rendered splendid assistance to his commanding officer in helping him to organize and lead a group of American and French Colonial soldiers against an enemy strong point located in a rock quarry on high ground. During the attack, Corporal Keene was in command of the troops on the right flank, and in storming the position, he rushed forward at the head of his men, hurled a hand grenade in the trenches, subdued one of the most difficult posts of the enemy position and personally captured an officer on whom was found important maps of the enemy positions. On the second day, Corporal Keene served in the capacity of an officer by commanding a company in the first wave of the attack formation and when his battalion commander became wounded he rendered valuable aid in assisting in maintaining control of formations until the objective was reached.

• 
  General Orders No. No. 5, War Department, 1937
  

Home Town: Crockett, Texas

Keene, Walter

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Walter Keene, Private First Class, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company F, 105th Infantry Regiment, 27th Division, A.E.F., at Arbre Guernon, France, October 17, 1918. During the advance of his company into the town, Private Keene, with utter disregard of his own personal danger, pursued several of the enemy into a house, and, single- handed, captured ten of them as they were in the act of setting up a machine-gun. On the following morning, October 18, 1918, near the town of Mazinghein, when the advance of the battalion had been temporarily halted by heavy enemy fire, Private Keene voluntarily carried a message for reinforcements to battalion headquarters through intense shell and machine-gun fire and returned with the necessary reinforcements, thereby enabling the battalion to continue its advance.

• 
  General Orders No. 6, War Department, 1932
  

Home Town: New York, New York

Keeper, Easter E.

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Easter E. Keeper, Private, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company L, 131st Infantry Regiment, 33d Division, A.E.F., near Bois- de-Harville, November 10, 1918. Volunteering for the service, Private Keeper went out in advance of our lines, under heavy machine-gun fire, to cut lanes through wide belts of barbed wire. Despite the enemy fire, to which he was constantly exposed, he accomplished his mission, enabling the attacking waves to resume the advance.

• 
  General Orders 64, War Department, 1919
  

Home Town: East Liverpool, Ohio

Keirs, Robert M.

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Robert M. Keirs, Private, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company A, 9th Machine-Gun Battalion, 3d Division, A.E.F., near Moulins, France, July 15, 1918. During the strong enemy attack, Private Kiers made a daylight reconnaissance under enemy machine-gun and artillery fire to locate the positions reached by the enemy in their advance across the Marne. He located accurately the enemy line, and the information he secured was of the greatest value to his platoon commander. Later he carried messages, under machine gun fire, to our artillery.

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  General Orders No. No. 22, War Department, 1920
  

Home Town: Washington, Pennsylvania

*Keiser, Harry M.

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Harry M. Keiser, First Lieutenant (Infantry), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company H, 125th Infantry Regiment, 32d Division, A.E.F., near Cierges, northeast of Chateau-Thierry, France, July 31, 1918. In the action to force the passage of the Ourcq River and capture the heights beyond, he distinguished himself by his conduct and personal example to his men. Under artillery fire and heavy machine-gun fire he continued to direct his platoon, even though severely wounded, in an effective manner against the enemy, until he was killed by machine-gun fire.

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  General Orders No. No. 132, War Department, 1918
  

Home Town: Chicago, Illinois

Keith, Hubert W.

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Hubert W. Keith, First Lieutenant (Infantry), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 38th Infantry Regiment, 3d Division, A.E.F., northeast of Cunel, France, October 22, 1918. First Lieutenant Keith courageously led his company in the attack on Hill 299, exposed to heavy machine-gun fire. He quickly organized his position, and later repelled an enemy counterattack. Although wounded on the evening of the 22d, he continued with his company until the following day.

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  General Orders No. No. 22, War Department, 1920
  

Home Town: Clermont, Georgia

Keith, Mont R.

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Mont R. Keith, Private, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company L, 28th Infantry Regiment, 1st Division, A.E.F., near Exermont, France, October 1 - 12, 1918. Private Keith voluntarily joined a patrol whose mission was to locate enemy machine guns and to secure such other information as might be of value to the attacking forces. The patrol penetrated the enemy's lines to a distance of a kilometer, locating a large number of machine-gun nests. Cut off from their own troops without food for water for 36 hours and under constant enemy fire, 1 officer and 18 of the 36 men of the patrol were either killed or wounded. Private Keith with indomitable spirit made his way to the American forces, in broad daylight under intense enemy fire, furnished valuable information of the enemy to his battalion commander, and voluntarily made his way back to the beleaguered patrol in order to lead them to their own lines; they thus escaped the American barrage which preceded the attack of October 4, 1918. His undaunted courage, leadership, and devotion to duty proved an inspiration to every man of his regiment.

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  General Orders No. No. 13, War Department, 1923
  

Home Town: Roxbury, Massachusetts

Kell, Porter P.

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Porter P. Kell, Corporal, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company I, 28th Infantry Regiment, 1st Division, A.E.F., south of Soissons, France, July 18 - 23, 1918. Corporal Kell carried numerous important messages over ground swept by heavy machine-gun and artillery fire, returning with valuable information from adjoining units. Due to his gallantry, his company commander was able to keep in close touch with platoon leaders. Corporal Kell on several occasions dressed the wounded under heavy enemy fire.

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  General Orders No. No. 39, War Department, 1920
  

Home Town: Clayton, Georgia

Keller, Roy L.

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Roy L. Keller, Sergeant, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company B, 354th Infantry Regiment, 89th Division, A.E.F., near Remonville, France, November 1, 1918. When his combat group was heavily fired upon, while crossing open exposed ground, by two machine-guns, Sergeant Keller charged the position from the flank, personally killing one gunner and making the capture of the other members of the crews possible. His action made possible the advance of his company.

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  General Orders No. 44, War Department, 1919
  

Home Town: Kirksville, Missouri

Keller, Theodore

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Theodore Keller, Sergeant, U.S. Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism while serving with the Forty-Seventh Company, Fifth Regiment (Marines), 2d Division, A.E.F., in action near Barricourt, France, November 1 - 2, 1918. Working through three desperate counterattacks of the enemy, Sergeant Keller established liaison with the adjacent division, maintaining contact with his flanks at all times, despite the hazards under which he worked.

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  General Order No. 32, War Department, 1919
  

Home Town: Lexington, Kentucky

Kelley, Austin J.

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Austin J. Kelley, Corporal, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company L, 101st Infantry Regiment, 26th Division, A.E.F., near Vaux, France, July 20, 1918. Corporal Kelley and Privates Harold E. Rounds and John J. Grady penetrated the enemy's lines in the face of machine-gun fire, captured a machine-gun and its crew, and returned with valuable information concerning the enemy's positions.

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  General Orders No. No. 125, War Department, 1918
  

Home Town: Malden, Massachusetts

Kelley, Henry G.

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Henry G. Kelley, Private, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company G, 119th Infantry Regiment, 30th Division, A.E.F., near Bellicourt, France, September 20, 1918. Voluntarily advancing alone against a machine-gun nest, which was causing heavy casualties in his platoon, Private Kelley bombed the enemy position, killing five of the crew and capturing the remaining three.