North Carolina Day, Friday, November 11th, 1921 : Armistice Day : North Carolina in the World War

              CELEBRATE ARMISTICE DAY AS NORTH CAROLINA DAY
The Superintendent of Public Instruction is directed by law to set
apart one day in each year to be known as North Carolina Day, and to
publish suitable material for use in the proper observance of this day
in the schools of the State.
November 11th, or Armistice Day, is accordingly set apart to be
observed by the schools of the State as North Carolina Day. It is fitting
that the schools should observe this day. Teachers and pupils should
study what our heroic and patriotic citizens did during that memorable
crisis when our lives were in danger and our liberties were at stake.
November 11th is both a State and National holiday. It is set apart
and should be devoted to a commemoration of the deeds of our soldiers
and all other patriotic citizens, who by their work, courage, and thrift
saved the world from a greater catastrophe even than war.
This bulletin, therefore, has been prepared in order to give the teacher
a wide range of material from which to make selections for the Armistice
Day program and to give the pupils a simple historical background for
the proper celebration of this day. The valuable historical material
incorporated herein should be used in classroom lessons, especially in the
teachings of history, civics, and language. The pupils should be en-couraged
to work up their own readings from a study of the texts and
from other sources. Our country's honor-roll should be worked up from
the list of citations published herein and also from local sources of infor-mation
concerning the dead. The local post of the American Legion, if
there is one, could help prepare this list. In this way the real meaning
of North Carolina's part in the World War may be brought to our boys
and girls.
Teachers should tell the story of how all the people cooperated to
destroy the forces of evil and to make this world a better place in which
to live. They should be taught to honor all patriotic citizens, and should
be led to see that both in times of war and in times of peace he or she
may be a soldier of liberty who fights the common enemies of our
country. What are our common enemies? Not only hostile foreigners,
but sloth, cowardice, ignorance, and disease, and it is our duty to fight
them with work, courage, thrift, and intelligence.
If the short-term schools in some counties have not opened by Novem-ber
11th, a day should be set apart either in November or December for
the proper observance of North Carolina Day.
We are indebted to Mr. E. B. House, the Collector of War Records of
the North Carolina Historical Commission, Raleigh, North Carolina,
for the preparation of this bulletin.
State Superintendent Public Instruction.
CONTENTS
Page
Program 5
Our Dead Overseas (Poem) 6
In Flanders Fields (Poem) 7
America's Answer (Poem) : 7
They Fought For You 8
The American Flag (Poem) 8
How the World War Came to the United States 9
Our Record in the World War 11
North Carolina's War Record (A Table) 13
How We Helped the Government 15
Welfare Work at Home and Abroad 18
Some Stories of Service 21
Edward Kidder Graham 21
Kiffin Yates Rockwell 22
Robert Lester Blackwell 23
Ernest Hyman 24
Edgar M. Halyburton 25
A Doughboy's Own Story 26
The Story of "The President Lincoln" 26
Blue Stars and Gold Stars (Poem) 28
North Carolina Men Awarded the Distinguished Service Cross 29
North Carolina Men Awarded the Distinguished Service Medal 65
Our Dead 68
To Peace With Victory 69
The Star-Spangled Banner (Song) 70
Battle Hymn of the Republic (Song) 71
Marseillaise (Song) 72
PROGRAM
Song—"America."
Invocation.
Greetings from State Superintendent.
Recitation—"The American Flag."
Song—"Over There."
Reading—"How the World War Came to the United States."
Recitation—"In Flanders Fields."
Recitation—"America's Reply."
Reading—"Our Record in the World War."
"North Carolina's War Record" (A Table).
Reading—"How We Helped the Government."
Song—"The Long, Long Trail."
Reading—Some Stories of Service:
Edward Kidder Graham.
Kiffin Yates Rockwell.
Robert Lester Blackwell.
Ernest Hyman.
Edgar M. Halyburton.
A Doughboy's Own Story.
The Story of The President Lincoln.
Song—"Pack Up Your Troubles."
Recitation—"Our Dead Overseas."
Reading—"Our County's Honor Roll."
(List of men cited and list of those who died.)
Reading—"Our Dead."
Song—"The Old North State."
Benediction.
Decoration of graves of all soldiers whose bodies have been returned.
OUR DEAD OVERSEAS
Edwin Markham
(Written for Armistice Day)
They sleep; they took the chance
In Italy, in Belgium, in France;
For us they gave their youth to its last "breath
;
For us they plunged on into the gulf of death.
With high heroic heart
They did their valiant part.
They gave the grace and glory of their youth
To lie in heaps uncouth.
They turned from these bright skies
To lie with dust and silence on their eyes.
They are not dead ; life's flag is never furled
;
They passed from world to world.
Their bodies sleep, but in some nobler land
Their spirits march under a new command.
New joys await them there
In hero heavens wrapt in immortal air.
Rejoice for them, rejoice;
They made the nobler choice.
How shall we honor their deed
—
How speak our praise of this immortal breed?
Only by living nobly as they died
—
Toiling for Truth denied,
Loyal to something bigger than we are
—
Something that swings the spirit to a star.
—Literary Digest.
IN FLANDERS FIELDS
By Lieut. Col. John McCrae
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly,
Scarce heard amidst the guns below.
We are the dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe!
To you from falling hands we throw
The torch. Be yours to hold it high!
If ye break faith with us who die,
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
AMERICA'S ANSWER
By R. W. LlLLARD
Rest ye in peace, ye Flanders dead.
The fight that ye so bravely led
We've taken up. And we will keep
True faith with you who lie asleep
With each a cross to mark his bed,
And poppies blowing overhead,
Where once his own life-blood ran red,
So let your rest be sweet and deep
In Flanders fields.
Fear not that ye have died for naught.
The torch ye threw to us, we caught.
Ten million hands will hold it high,
And Freedom's light shall never die!
We've learned the lesson that ye taught
In Flanders fields.
THEY FOUGHT FOR YOU
Soldiers in homespun,
Soldiers in blue,
Soldiers in khaki,
All fought for you.
Soldiers of fortune,
With Fortune's hands bring
Field flowers and home flowers
—
A glad offering
For those who on battlefields
Suffered and bled.
Honor the soldiers,
Living or dead.
Soldiers in homespun,
Soldiers in blue,
Soldiers in khaki,
All fought for you
!
—Vermont Normal School Bulletin.
THE AMERICAN FLAG
(By three small girls—first one to be dressed in red, the next in white, and
the third in blue, and each waving a flag.)
All—We wear today the colors
To which our men are true
;
Long may they wave above us,
The red, the white, the blue.
Ked—Bright as the rays of the morning
When comes the dawn's first gleam,
Within our much-loved banner
The crimson bars are seen.
White—Pure as the snowflakes falling
Or early morning light,
Among the bars of crimson
Appear the bars of white.
Blue—Bright as the sky at evening
When gleam the stars of night,
The blue within our banner
Enfolds the stars of white.
All—The red, white, and blue,
Forever "shall wave
O'er the land of the free
And the home of the brave!"
—Oregon Memorial Day Annual.
HOW THE WORLD WAR CAME TO THE UNITED STATES
On June 29, 1914, we read in our newspapers that Prince Ferdinand
of Austria had been killed while visiting a town in one of his provinces.
Prince Ferdinand was the heir to the throne of Austria-Hungary. His
murder was a terrible thing. We thought of it as the crime of some
fanatic like the murder of Presidents Lincoln, Garfield, and McKinley
in America. We thought the murderer would be caught and punished,
and that that would be the end of it. Few people thought that the
murder of an Austrian prince would plunge the whole world into a war
when the murder of our presidents had not even caused a riot.
But within a few days after this crime every great country in Europe
was at war. As the war went on, first one country, then another came
into it. Finally America entered this great war, too.
This war lasted nearly five years, with terrible results. Seven million
soldiers were killed. Twenty-five million more were wounded. Many
millions of men, women, and children starved to death, or died of sick-ness.
Many cities were destroyed. The governments in many countries
were broken up. All the money that Europe had spent in a hundred
years to make people well and happy would not equal the money spent
in this great war. How could the murder of one man cause all this
misery ?
The answer is, because of the German Kaiser. He used this murder
as an excuse to start a war he had been planning for many years. He
wanted to conquer the whole world. He broke solemn treaties and made
war on innocent peoples. He broke the laws of warfare, and killed
old people and little babies. He used poisoned gas on the battle-field,
against all the laws of war. He sent airships to wreck hospitals
where sick soldiers were lying, and to destroy peaceful villages. He
broke the laws of the sea. He sank hospital ships that could not fight
at all. He sank the ships of neutral nations, and left their crews to
perish in boats. He sank the merchant ships of hostile countries with-out
warning and killed innocent people. He sank without warning the
Lusitania and killed women and little babies. (Among these were over
a hundred American citizens.) Then he gave the school children in
Germany a holiday as if he had done some great thing. He respected
no law and no people that stood in the way of his greed, ambition, and
tyranny.
The Kaiser had persuaded Austria-Hungary to join him in his plans.
He was waiting for an excuse to start a war when the Austrian prince
was killed. The man who killed the Austrian prince was a Serbian.
Kaiser William said to Austria, "We will blame Serbia for this, declare
war on her, and conquer her."
But when they declared war on Serbia, Russia came to her aid, and
with Russia came France. Russia was the kinsman and protector of
Serbia, and France was the friend of Russia.
10
The German Kaiser thought he could whip both Kussia and France.
Therefore, he declared war on them both. He planned to throw a great
army quickly into France, whip the French, and then send all his forces
against Russia. France and Germany touch each other for many miles.
But France had so many forts along this frontier that the Kaiser knew
he could not get through them quickly. But between France and Ger-many
on the west lies Belgium, a level country without strong forts.
The Kaiser planned to go into France through Belgium. He wanted
Belgium to join him in the war by letting his armies march through to
France. For Belgium, because it is level and easy to march in, had long
been the battleground of Europe. But Belgium many years before had
promised the other European nations that she would remain neutral in
any wars between them if they would not try to march their armies
through her lands. All the great nations of Europe agreed to this. The
Kaiser, also, had solemnly promised not to march into Belgium. But
now he said to the Belgians
:
"I am going to break my promise. You will have to let my armies
through or fight."
The Belgians replied
:
"We will fight, then!" and all the world honors Belgium for this
brave answer.
The Kaiser invaded Belgium and did many horrible things. He
burned her cities. He murdered her innocent people. He made slaves
of many more, and took them into Germany. His invasion of Belgium
brought Great Britain into the war, because she had promised to defend
the neutrality of Belgium.
Although the Kaiser had built a great navy, it was nothing to compare
with that of Great Britain. The British ships quickly ran all the
German ships off the seas, and blockaded all the German ports. No
ship could get in or out of Germany. The Kaiser's people could not
make enough provisions and ammunition for his armies. He could not
trade with the outside world. He was afraid he would have to give up
the war.
But he had one resource left. He had many submarines. These
could slip by the English ships and get out on the high seas. There
they began to sink, without a word of warning, all ships going to or from
England. This was against the laws of war even when he sank English
ships. For when a war-ship sinks the merchant ship of a hostile nation,
it must give warning so that the sailors and passengers can save them-selves.
For they are noncombatants. But the Kaiser went even further.
He sank the ships of any nation without any warning at all. In this
way he sank over a thousand ships of neutral nations. All of these
nations protested in the name of the law. But the Kaiser said
:
"I will not respect the law of the high seas. I will conquer them, too."
Many of these nations were not able to protect their ships. But
America was able. She warned the Kaiser from the very first that to
11
sink American ships would mean war. The Kaiser knew this, but he
thought he could whip America, too. He went on from one crime to
another against us, and we realized his evil plans against our country.
Then America came into the war with all her might. She joined forces
with the Allies in a solemn agreement not to stop until the Kaiser was
whipped forever.
OUR RECORD IN THE WORLD WAR
The people of America went into the war with all their might. They
had but one thought—to free the world from the fear and tyranny of
Germany. Thousands of men rushed into the army and navy. Thou-sands
of men and women became nurses and welfare workers in the
camps. Millions joined the Red Cross, the Young Men's Christian
Association, the Knights of Columbus, the Salvation Army, and other
societies to care for the health, the comfort, and the pleasure of the
soldiers. Business men left their factories and offices to work for the
government without pay. Almost everybody made sacrifices to save food
and fuel for our armies and those of our allies. From the pockets of the
people billions of dollars poured into the United States Treasury to pay
for these things.
The Government itself made great preparations for war. Many new
warships were built, and the navy was greatly increased. Plans were
made to raise and train an army of many millions. Thirty-seven great
training camps were built. Hundreds of factories were changed from
making peace-time articles to making munitions of war. The govern-ment
took charge of railroads, telegraph lines, and shipping companies
in order to hasten soldiers and supplies to Europe.
Eight hundred thousand men were enrolled in our navy. A powerful
fleet of ships was sent to Europe, where it joined the British fleet in
protecting our ships and those of our friends. Our navy fought no
great naval battle because the German ships were afraid to come out
and fight. But it kept faithful watch over the German submarines and
destroyed many of them. Day and night, in calm and in storms, and in
the bitter cold of the North Sea, our sailors did their work. Together
with the British, they kept the seas safe for America and her allies.
Eour million men were enrolled in the American army. Of these over
2,000,000 went to France and fought there in the great battles of 1918.
At Chateau-Thierry, Belleau Wood, St. Mihiel, Bellicourt, and in the
Argonne Forest they bore their share in some of the greatest battles in
all the history of the world. Time after time they defeated some of
Germany's best veterans.
In this great national effort each state did its full share. No state
has cause to boast over any other state, for all served alike.
Salisbury Canteen, Christmas, 1917. This Canteen gave a turkey dinner to every soldier
passing through Salisbury on Christmas Day.
Serving refreshments to soldiers passing through Raleigh.
13
North Carolina boys rushed across to join the allies in the early days
of the war. Some of these, like Kiffin Kockwell and James McConnell,
were great fighters. Some of them, like Kobert Bridgers, drove ambu-lances
and cared for the wounded. North Carolina women went, too, as
nurses and workers in the camps and hospitals.
Seventy-three thousand North Carolinians went into the army; 9,000
went into the navy and the marine corps. These men were in every
division of the regular army that fought in France, and on every ship
that served on the seas. One of our own divisions, the 30th, broke the
Hindenburg line in the most famous battle of the war. Another of our
own divisions, the 81st, was moving victoriously through the Argonne
Woods when the Amistice was signed.
North Carolina gave $160,000,000 in Liberty Bonds and "War Savings
Stamps, and over $3,000,000 to the Eed Cross and other societies work-ing
for the soldiers. Thousands of our citizens worked to make com-forts
and necessities for the soldiers. We made over 2,500,000 articles
for their use. Josephus Daniels, Secretary of the Navy, was a North
Carolinian; Walter Hines Page, the ambassador to England, was also
a North Carolinian. North Carolina business men, lawyers, doctors and
others served throughout the war without pay. No call for men, for
money, for work, for aid of any kind was made in vain to North Caro-lina.
NORTH CAROLINA'S WAR RECORD (A TABLE)
73,000 men in the Army.
9,000 men in the Navy and Marine Corps.
1,600 men gave their lives.
1 man awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor.
200 men awarded the Distinguished Service Cross.
12 men awarded the Distinguished Service Medal.
5 Generals.
5 Admirals.
Josephus Daniels, Secretary of the Navy.
Waltee Hines Page, Ambassador to Great Britain.
$160,000,000 loaned to the Government in Liberty Bonds and War
Savings Stamps.
$3,000,000 given to the Bed Cross and other welfare organizations.
250,000 members of the Bed Cross.
2,500,000 articles manufactured by these Bed Cross workers for the
soldiers.
>m. iuw..j > -vw*'**•**
15
HOW WE HELPED THE GOVERNMENT
By watching Europe at war for three years our Government had
learned to organize for the war. It had learned how to provide the five
great necessities of a nation at war : men, money, food, fuel, and the
cooperation of all the people. To provide these things the Government
organized the draft boards to get men, the Liberty Loan committees to
get money, the food administration to get food, the fuel administration
to get fuel, and the Qouncil of Defense to see that every one had some-thing
to do.
Over a million men volunteered in the army and navy. Many more
would have volunteered, but the Government chose a better way to raise
men. This was by the draft. The draft law required every man between
18 and 45 years of age to register at a bureau in his home community.
Then as the men were needed, they were called into service from every
part of the country. There were few people who opposed the draft.
The men called into service went gladly, and thousands of men and
women helped administer the draft without one cent of pay.
Many interesting stories are told about the draft. One especially
shows a fine sense of honor and patriotism. A boy in one of the western
counties of JSTorth Carolina appeared before the draft board in his
county and asked to be sent into the army at once. He was asked why
he did not wait until he was called in regular order. He replied that he
wanted to redeem the honor of his family. He told how a relative of his
had been called into service in the Civil War and had deserted from the
army. The boy had always felt disgraced by this uncle's cowardice, and
he wanted to honor his family by his own services in this war. He was
sent to camp, where he made a fine record.
In another North Carolina county a boy was called up for service,
but never appeared before the board. He was branded as a deserter and
hunted for throughout the whole time of the war. Finally he was dis-covered.
He had imagined that he would not get to France quickly
enough through the draft ; therefore, when he was called up, he changed
his name, ran away, and joined the regular army. He got into trouble
for thus violating the draft law, but the Government pardoned him
because of his brave spirit.
There are many stories of bravery and patriotism told about the draft.
There are also stories of cowardly and ignorant men, for not all men
are what they ought to be. But the records show that only a few JSTorth
Carolinians deserted from the army. By far the greater part of these
were poor, ignorant men, who did not understand what the Government
wanted them to do. As soon as they understood that they were to fight
to protect their country they went gladly to war.
These deserters were ignorant. Many of them could not read or write.
Therefore, they could not understand what the war was about. Igno-
16
rant people like this are a great danger to a nation, because they are so
easily deceived. This is shown by a disaster that happened to the Italian
army in 1917. Italy spends so much money for her army and navy that
she has little left for schools. Consequently many of the Italian soldiers
never learned to read and write. The Germans knew this, and kept
spreading false reports by spies in the Italian army. These spies told
the soldiers that the war was nearly over, and that Germany was not
going to attack Italy any more. So many of the soldiers believed these
rumors that the Italian army became careless on the battlefield. Then
Germany made a big attack and came near destroying the whole Italian
army.
The Germans tried to play the same tricks on our soldiers, but they
were too well informed. The ignorant men called into our armies were
sent to school by the Government. For a man who cannot read and
write cannot learn how to use the weapons, maps and books that a soldier
must use in modern warfare.
The Government needed billions of dollars to carry on the war. There
was no way to get this money quickly except by borrowing it from the
people. People had to be persuaded to lend their money to the Govern-ment.
They were persuaded by the Liberty Loan speakers. In every
community in the United States patriotic citizens went about explaining
to the people why it was necessary to lend their money to the Govern-ment.
They showed how the man who loaned money to the Government
would both save money and help the Government, too. Success every-where
met their efforts. Not a single state failed to raise the amount
asked of it. North Carolina raised $160,000,000, which was $10,000,000
more than was asked. Mr. Joseph G. Brown and Mr. John W. Fries
directed the work of raising money in North Carolina. Most of the
people understood that the Government was simply borrowing the money,
and would surely pay it back. But an old negro farmer in Nash County
was surprised to learn that he would be repaid. He had given three
hundred dollars to the Government, as he thought. He said people ought
to give money when boys were giving their lives.
It meant a sacrifice for many of the people to spare their money. One
North Carolina woman, a widow, loaned the Government one hundred
dollars. The money she put down was all in dimes. It was learned that
for many years she had been saving ten cents at a time from her earn-ings.
Now she was willing to turn it all over to her country. Kich and
poor, men, women, and children—all loaned their money to help win
the war.
All over the world men had stopped raising food because they had to
enter the army to fight. Many thousand farms had been ruined by the
contending armies. People cannot work and fight without plenty of
food. Experience taught us that food would win the war. Our Govern-ment
organized the Food Administration to produce food and to save
it. The United States had to feed not only its own people, but its allies.
17
Every one was urged to plant food crops and to raise cattle and poul-try.
The burden of raising food of course fell on the farmers. But in
towns and cities home-owners planted gardens. People were urged not
to leave a foot of land unplanted with food crops. Those who had no
land to plant were urged to work on the farms and gardens. Even school
children were asked to plant gardens at school. In military camps in
this country and in France there were many war gardens.
All the people were glad to raise food, but it was hard to get them to
save it. The average American family throws away enough food to sup-port
an extra person. When our troops passed through England, the
English government sent special men to our mess halls to pick up and
save the food we threw away. Kestaurants, hotels, and dining cars
especially wasted food by serving too large portions to guests. Sugar,
wheat and beef were the things most wasted, and at the same time most
needed. Our people began to save food as soon as they had their atten-tion
called to the need. Skillful people prepared all sorts of dishes from
oats, corn meal, molasses, fish, and such things, and saved the beef, sugar
and wheat for our soldiers and our allies.
In each county of the State were committees to help save food. Mr.
Henry A. Page, of Aberdeen, directed the production and saving of food
for the whole State of North Carolina.
Fuel was just as necessary as food. The chief fuel of the world is
coal. So many men were taken from the mines to fight that coal was
scarce all over the world. Moveover, the winter of 1917-1918 was one
of the most severe we have ever had. Factories had to keep going to
make munitions and clothing, and people had to be kept warm.
The Government organized the Fuel Administration to regulate the
supply of fuel. When there was plenty of wood, as in North Carolina,
little coal was allowed. Of course we had to have coal for our factories
and our light and power plants. Where there was little wood, as in New
England, much more coal was allowed. The people were glad to save
fuel. Mr. A. W. McAllister and Mr. K. C. Norfleet directed the fuel-saving
work in North Carolina.
Thousands of people were ready to help the Government. They
simply wanted to know how to go about it. The Government, therefore,
organized the Council of Defense to show the people how to help the
Government. There were small councils of defense in every county, and
at the head of all of these smaller councils in each state was one large
council. Dr. D. H. Hill directed the North Carolina Council of
Defense.
The members of the Council of Defense served in many ways. They
kept watch in every neighborhood against traitors and slackers. They
helped sell liberty bonds and war savings stamps. They encouraged the
people to plant gardens and showed them how. They raised money for
18
the Red Cross and other welfare organizations. Wherever anything
worth while was going on in the State there was a Council of Defense
busily at work.
The result of all these efforts was a state united, with men, women
and children at work. Men, money, food, fuel and help never failed.
These great organizations took the time, strength and money of thou-sands
of our citizens. But all gave themselves freely. Joseph G. Brown,
John W. Fries, Henry A. Page, A. W. McAllister, R. C. Norfleet, D. H.
Hill, all served without pay as directors for the whole State. In every
county prominent citizens likewise gave their services to the Government
as soldiers of liberty.
WELFARE WORK AT HOME AND ABROAD
The people of North Carolina not only furnished soldiers to the Gov-ernment,
they also sent welfare workers to the camps and to France to
care for them. They formed societies at home to make clothing, band-ages
and comforts for the soldiers. They took care of the relatives of
soldiers who needed any kind of help. Moreover, they helped many other
people who needed aid for any reason.
The greatest of all our welfare organizations was the Red Cross. In
every neighborhood throughout the land there were branches of the
Red Cross. In North Carolina there were 250,000 members. These
patriotic workers made over 2,500,000 articles for the soldiers. They
sent men and women to the camps in this country, and to France to
nurse and care for the soldiers. One North Carolina girl went to Bel-gium
in 1914 as a British Red Cross nurse. She served throughout the
war, and was under fire most of the time. For her service she has been
decorated by France, Belgium, and Great Britain. Her name is Made-
Ion Battle Hancock. She was born in Asheville and now lives in
England.
While the Red Cross was serving the soldiers so nobly, a new call was
made on it here at home. A dread disease called influenza swept over
the land killing many thousand people. Often all the members of a
whole family would be stricken with no one to care for them. Often
people would be stricken who were too poor to get a doctor or a nurse.
In all such cases the Red Cross organized hospitals, and sent doctors and
nurses to care for the sick. Many of these doctors and nurses fell sick
and died in this service. They, too, were heroic soldiers fighting a
terrible enemy.
A fine branch of the Red Cross work was the canteen, as the service
station at the railroad stations was called. These canteens furnished hot
meals and other comforts to soldiers passing through on troop trains.
A famous canteen was at Raleigh. It served over 250,000 soldiers, and
never failed to meet any demand on it.
19
Akin to the Red Cross was the War Camp Community Service in all
towns near which soldiers were encamped. This organization enter-tained
the soldiers as the guests of the towns. Kaleigh, Fayetteville,
Charlotte, Wilmington, and Southport, had active organizations of this
kind. There were also the Y. M. C. A., the Knights of Columbus, the
Jewish Welfare Board, the churches, and many others working for the
welfare of the soldiers. Thousands of North Carolinians did actual
work in these organizations. The people of the State gave over $3,000,-
000 to help them in their work.
ijfc
<&\. >' ;}% | & ? S»-g *''..
Sniper of the 30th Division in the trenches in Belgium.
Soldiers of the 322d Infantry on November 11, 1918. They have just received news that the
armistice has been signed and have stopped their advance against the Germans and
are preparing dinner.
Entrance to the great St. Quentin tunnel on the Hindenburg Line. This tunnel runs for sev-eral
miles underground. It was used as a German dugout to protect thousands of men
from artillery fire. Our men of the 30th Division took this tunnel at the
point of the bayonet.
SOME STORIES OF SERVICE
"With high heroic heart,
They did their valiant part !"
EDWARD KIDDER GRAHAM
We have learned how great and busy men gave their services to the
Government without pay. They sold liberty bonds, worked to save food
and fuel, helped to raise the army, and worked for the Red Cross and
other welfare organizations. There were hundreds of men and women
who served the Government in this way. We honor all of them as un-selfish
and good citizens. We honor in particular Edward Kidder Gra-ham
because of the greatness and goodness of his life and because he
gave his life in the service.
Edward Kidder Graham was the President of our State University.
He began his work in life as a teacher, and he died while working as a
teacher and example to all of us. He was born at Charlotte, North
Carolina, October 11, 1876. After preparing for college in his native
city he entered the University of North Carolina in 1894. At the Uni-versity
he was a fine student, a keen debater, and a brilliant writer.
His classmates honored him for these qualities. But they honored him
even more as a clean, fair, and sportsmanlike man. He knew how to
lead men. His fellow students said that Ed Graham had a habit of
being right.
Soon after he graduated in 1898, he began to teach in the University.
He was a wonderful teacher because he knew young men and could
inspire and guide them. His fame as a teacher went all over the
country, and many great colleges asked him to leave the University and
come teach for them. They offered him money and positions greater
than the University could give him at the time. But Edward Graham
would never leave the University because he loved it. The University
rewarded him for his loving service by giving him positions of high
trust and honor.
Finally in 1915 he was made President of the University. All the
State rejoiced in the honor that had come to him. He inspired the
students and teachers in the University, and the people of the State, so
that never before had North Carolina believed more in education. He
worked day and night guiding the University and the State toward
better citizenship. Education and Citizenship were his watchwords.
Then came the war. No man knew better than Edward Kidder Gra-ham
why we were in the war, and how we must work to win it. He
offered his services to the Government, though he was already hard
4
22
worked with, his duties as president of the University. He helped
organize the schools of the country to study the war. He helped direct
the Council of Defense for the whole United States. He helped direct
the Young Men's Christian Association in its work all over the world,
and he had special charge of the colleges in the South Atlantic States
which were training young men for the army.
These duties were more than any one man could discharge. There-fore
Edward Kidder Graham destroyed his health by hard work. He
became sick with influenza, and because he was so weakened by over-work
he could not resist the disease. He died October 26, 1918.
The United States lost in him one of its right-hand men. North
Carolina lost in him a great leader. Men who had studied and worked
with him mourned for him as a friend. His was a great and strong life
which he gave in service to humanity. Edward Kidder Graham was a
soldier of liberty.
KIFFIN YATES ROCKWELL
On September 23, 1916, the world learned that the aviator Kiffin
Eockwell was dead. He had fallen in an air battle in France. Both
enemy and friend paid tribute to Rockwell's memory, because of his
bravery and skill. He was a leader in that group of men who left their
own peaceful countries to fight for France. They believed that France
was protecting the rights of the whole world.
Kiffin Rockwell was an American. He was born in Tennessee, but he
lived most of his life in North Carolina. For this reason North Caro-lina
claims him, too, and honors his memory.
Kiffin Rockwell and his brother Paul loved France. Their ancestors
were French, and these two boys decided long before the war came that
they would fight for France if she was ever attacked by Germany.
When France was attacked by Germany in 1914 they went at once to
France and joined the French army. Their regiment was the Foreign
Legion. It was given this name because it was made up of men from
all over the world who wanted to fight for France. In it were many
boys from the United States. Victor Chapman, James McConnell,
Norman Prince, are the names of some of them. All these men gave
their lives for France. All of them are honored as heroes. None of
them has greater fame than Kiffin Rockwell. James McConnell was
also a North Carolinian. Kiffin and his brother Paul fought for over a
year in the trenches. Both received serious wounds. Paul was crippled
so that he could not fight any more. Kiffin got well and strong again.
He left the Foreign Legion and became an aviator. Then he joined the
Lafayette squadron of France and became a great air fighter. May 18,
1916, he brought down the first German plane that was brought down by
23
an American. Soon he brought down more. It was said of him : "Where
Rockwell is the Germans cannot pass." He would never rest except
when his airplane needed gas or repairs. As soon as his plane was
ready, off he would go in search of the Germans. He gained the highest
honors that France can bestow on a soldier, but he said, "I am only
paying the debt America owes to France."
Kockwell fought over a hundred battles in the air. But on Septem-ber
23, 1916, while he was fighting a German plane, a machine-gun
bullet struck him in the eye. The great aviator fell to the earth dead.
His comrades said, "The best and bravest of us is no more."
In 1916 few Americans thought we would get into the war. We
could not understand why American boys should want to give their lives
for France. Even Kifiin Rockwell's mother could not see for a long
time why he should fight for France. But Kifiin wrote to her one day
and said
:
"If I die I want you to know that I have died as every man ought to
die—fighting for what is right. I do not feel that I am fighting for
France alone, but for the cause of all humanity—the greatest of all
causes."
In a little while the United States was in this war. Like Kifiin Rock-well,
we fought for all humanity against Germany. For this reason we
honor Kifiin Rockwell as a pioneer. He led us in a crusade for
humanity.
ROBERT LESTER BLACKWELL
Of the 82,000 North Carolinians who went into the army and navy,
some died gloriously on the field of battle; some died from horrible
wounds; some died of disease. Others went through the same dangers
without a scratch. Others never went to France at all, but served here
at home.
Why was this so ? The answer is—the fortunes of war. When a man
joins the army of his country he lays aside for the time his own will and
interests. It is not what he wants, but what his superiors think best
that he does. This is true from the humblest private to the commanding
general of all the armies.
The watchword of the army is service. Service means to obey orders.
That is what every soldier is trained to do. He is trained to fear neither
death nor suffering. He is trained to fear only failure to do his duty.
All soldiers were serving; all had to bear the fortunes of war. One
might die a glorious death ; another might suffer a broken body ; another
might not receive a scratch. Some soldiers might go to great adventures
in strange countries; others might drill and labor in training camps in
their home country, but whatever fortune of war the good soldier met
24
with, lie met it in the name of service to his country. An example of
the greatest service is Robert Lester Blackwell.
Robert Lester Blackwell was a farmer boy. He was born in Hurdle
Mills in Person County, North Carolina. When the war broke out he
joined the 119th infantry and went abroad to fight. He served with
honor in Belgium and on the Hindenburg line at Bellicourt. On Octo-ber
11, 1918, in a great battle before St. Souplet in France, he and a
few of his comrades were cut off from their regiment by the German
artillery fire. They knew that unless some one carried a message back
to the regiment all of them would be captured or killed. They knew
also that any man who tried to get through the German fire would
probably be killed. The commanding officer asked for volunteers to
carry the message. Withouf hesitation Blackwell stepped forward. He
took the message and plunged into the hail of shells that churned up
every foot of the ground. A shell struck him and the brave soldier fell
dead.
In memory of this brave deed Congress gave to Blackwell's father a
beautiful medal of honor, the highest honor our country can bestow on a
soldier. Throughout all the country was read the order citing his
bravery for an act that was "above and beyond the call of duty."
Robert Lester Blackwell was not trying to win a name for himself. He
was trying to save the lives of his comrades. It was an act of service
such as has been described by the Master of men when He said, "Greater
love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends."
ERNEST HYMAN
Robert Lester Blackwell, of Person County, sacrificed his life in an
effort to save his comrades. E"o officer would have commanded him to
take the risk he did, because there was no hope of success. Thus his act
was "above and beyond the call of duty."
Sometimes a soldier is called upon to venture his life in some crisis
of battle. This is a call of duty.
Ernest Hyman was a private in the 120th Infantry. On September
29, 1918, his regiment was charging the Hindenburg line at Bellicourt.
It was raining, and smoke and fog filled the air. In the darkness Hyman
became lost from his company. A coward would have retreated. But
Hyman searched until he found another soldier. These two soldiers
advanced together. They found three machine-gun nests, broke them
up, and captured four German prisoners. Then they went on till they
found their company. Hyman went further. He volunteered to go with
a patrol, and went 600 yards into the German lines. For this heroism
in battle he was given a Distinguished Service Cross. The account of
his bravery was read before his comrades.
25
Over two hundred North Carolina boys did brave deeds like Hyman's.
All of them received the Distinguished Service Cross. This cross is an
honor given to a man for unusual heroism in battle.
Like Blackwell and Hyman, all of these men were good soldiers. They
were not trying to make names for themselves. They were obeying
orders. Their bravery was in the name of service.
The names of all these men and the story of their bravery are in this
little book. While all should be honored alike, perhaps you would like
to find the heroes from your own county, and tell the story of their
brave deeds on Armistice Day.
EDGAR M. HALYBURTON
It is a soldier's duty not only to fight in battle, but also to serve his
country wherever he may be. This is what Edgar M. Halyburton did.
Edgar M. Halyburton was born at Taylorsville, North Carolina. He
volunteered in the regular army and became a sergeant in the 16th
Infantry. This regiment was a part of the 1st Division, and was one
of the first regiments to go to Erance.
In November, 1917, the Germans raided the American trenches and
took. Sergeant Halyburton a prisoner. Sergeant Halyburton was carried
into Germany and kept as a prisoner of war from November, 1917, till
November, 1918. He was in many German prison camps, and in none
of them was he well treated. As the war went on other American pris-oners
of war came to these camps. The Germans tried to break their
spirits and make them give valuable information about the American
armies. They kept the American prisoners in dirty houses and did
not give them enough to eat.
Many a soldier's spirit would have broken down had it not been for
Sergeant Halyburton. He organized the prisoners, and found com-fortable
places for them to stay in. He saw that all food and clothing
due them was fairly divided among all the prisoners. He organized
officers and made rules to prevent the Americans from getting discour-aged
and giving the Germans information about our armies.
Finally in November, 1918, the Armistice was signed and Sergeant
Halyburton and the other prisoners of war were sent back to the Ameri-can
army. There it was learned how he had served his country even
while in prison. The Government thanked him publicly for these fine
services by giving him a medal called the Distinguished Service Medal.
Many generals, colonels and other men of high rank received this medal
for the fine work they did in training and leading soldiers. But none
of them deserves more credit than Sergeant Halyburton. He was not
trying to win a name for himself. He was only doing his duty where he
was. His was the spirit of service.
26
A DOUGHBOY'S OWN STORY
We have learned of brave deeds like BlackwelPs and Hyman's. "We
nave learned of fine services like Sergeant Halyburton's.
But there were five million men in the army and navy. What of
them ? Are they not to be honored, too ? They were all in the service.
All of them offered their lives. All of them served where duty called
them. Thousands of them passed through the same dangers that con-fronted
the heroes about whom we have been studying. Let us learn
about these men who called themselves "doughboys."
There is a story of a great battle as the doughboy saw it. It is told
by Corporal James E. Gregory, of Pasquotank County.
Corporal James E. Gregory was a North Carolina boy. He fought
in Belgium, and later at Bellicourt where the Hindenburg line was
broken. This is his account of the Battle of the Hindenburg Line on
September 29, 1918 :
"At 5 :50 a. in., September 29th, our division attacked the Hindenburg
line. For four long hours the artillery fire continued from both sides.
It looked as if the destruction of the world had begun. I could not hear
the sound of a voice. Shells were falling everywhere. Shrapnel was
filling the air with its horrible whistle. Wounded men were moaning
and groaning on every side. They were pleading for some one to help
them. German prisoners were coming over with their hands up. They
were yelling 'Kamerad !' Enemy airplanes were whizzing low to the
earth and sending showers of bullets on us. My friends everywhere
were falling dead and wounded. I hardly knew what was happening.
Suddenly the hardest fighting was over. We had taken the great St.
Quentin tunnel and the town of Bellicourt. The Hindenburg line had
been broken. We spent that night in a German dugout seventy feet
underground. The night before Germans had slept there. They thought
they would never have to give it up."
This little story is true. It shows us what every soldier went through
in battle. Each soldier had his duty to perform. Each one had to face
death. Some were killed, but most of them went through safely. All
were filled with the spirit of service.
THE STORY OF "THE PRESIDENT LINCOLN"
One of the finest transports in our Navy was the President Lincoln.
It was commanded by a North Carolinian, Commander Percy W. Foote.
His crew was made up of young boys who had joined the Navy for the
war. This great ship had made five trips to France and had carried
over twenty-five thousand soldiers.
27
May 29, 1918, the President Lincoln left Brest, France. With her
were the Susquehana, the Antigone, and the Ryndam. Torpedo boat
destroyers escorted them for two days. The destroyers then left the four
ships to go alone. The President Lincoln and her sister ships' sailed in
safety till the morning of May 31st. About nine o'clock there was a
loud crash aboard the President Lincoln. She had been struck by a
torpedo from a German submarine. Every one knew that the great
ship must sink. Her three sister ships had to leave her. Such were the
orders. This was to keep the submarine from sinking them, too.
Commander Foote gave orders to abandon the ship. All the sick and
wounded men were placed in boats. All boats were lowered into the
water. Then most of the sailors jumped from the sinking ship. But
the gun crews remained at their posts. They fired at the submarine
until the ship went down. At the last minute they jumped, too.
The President Lincoln went down with flags flying and left the sailors
floating about.
Then the submarine came back. The Germans were looking for pris-oners.
They tried to find the commanding officer, but the sailors kept
him hid. Finally they captured Lieutenant Isaacs and carried him to
Germany. But he escaped before the war was over.
The sister ships of the President Lincoln sent wireless messages for
her aid. Finally the United States destroyer, Warrington, learned what
had happened. She was two hundred and fifty miles away. But she
started for the scene at once. By skillful sailing the commander of the
Warrington sailed two hundred and fifty miles and found the ship-wrecked
men by eleven o'clock on the night of the 31st.
Over six hundred men were on the President Lincoln. Of these only
twenty-six lost their lives. One of these was a negro boy. He was
Commander Foote's body servant, and lost his life by trying to help
Commander Foote get away. Had it not been for the skill and bravery
of Commander Foote in controlling his men, many more would have lost
their lives. Because of his skill and bravery the United States gave him
the Distinguished Service Medal, and the King of Belgium also pinned
a medal on this brave sailor.
28
BLUE STARS AND GOLD STARS
Henry Van Dyke
It was my lot of late to travel far
Through all America's domain,
A willing, gray-haired servitor
Bearing the Fiery Cross of righteous war
—
And everywhere, on mountain, vale and plain,
In crowded street and lonely cottage door,
I saw the symbol of the bright blue star,
Millions of stars. Rejoice, dear land, rejoice
That God hath made thee great enough to give
Beneath thy starry flag unfurled
A gift to all the world
—
Thy living sons that Liberty might live.
But many a boy we hold
Dear in our heart of hearts
Is missing from the home-returning host.
Ah, say not they are lost,
For they have found and given their life
In sacrificial strife;
Their service stars have changed from blue to gold
!
That sudden rapture took them far away,
Yet they are here with us today,
Even as the heavenly stars we cannot see
Through the bright veil of sunlight
Shed their influence still
On our vexed life, and promise peace
From God to all men of good will.
Peace, peace, O great and holy word!
Help us, dear God, to guard it with the sword.
We want a better world than that of old.
Lead us on paths of high endeavor
Toiling upward, climbing ever,
Ready to suffer for the right,
Until we reach at last a loftier height,
More worthy to behold
Our guiding stars, our hero-stars of gold.
NORTH CAROLINA MEN
AWARDED THE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS
Robert Lester Blackwell was the only North Carolinian who won a
Congressional Medal of Honor, which is given for service above and
beyond the call of duty. He was from Person County. Two hundred
North Carolina boys won the Distinguished Service Cross, which is
given for great bravery in battle. Eleven won the Distinguished Service
Medal, also, which is given for fine work.
These medals were all given by the United States. France, Great
Britain, Belgium, and other nations, also gave medals to many of our
soldiers. But we cannot yet learn who they were. As far as possible,
the names of these men decorated by the United States, and the stories of
their services are told under the head of the counties from which they
came. You should learn the heroes in your own county, and the brave
deeds they did.
ALAMANCE COUNTY:
ROBERT P. COOK, sergeant, Company G, 120th Infantry. For extraordi-nary
heroism in action near Bellicourt, France, September 29, 1918. When
his platoon was held up by machine-gun fire during an advance, although
suffering from a painful machine-gun bullet wound in the hand, he personally
killed the gunner and put the gun out of action, thus permitting the further
advance of his platoon.
Home address, William P. Cook, father, Altamahaw, N. C. (G. O. 37,
W. D., 1919.)
*WALTER L. FOSTER, Company D, 119th Infantry. For extraordinary
heroism in action near Bellicourt, France, September 29, 1918. Acting as a
runner, Private Foster carried frequent messages between his platoon leader
and company commander, exposed at all times to heavy enemy fire of artillery
and machine guns. While performing this meritorious work he was killed by
machine-gun fire.
Home address, Miss Lizzie Foster, sister, Haw River, N. C. (G. O. 21,
W. D., 1919.)
JULIUS A. LANKFORD (Army serial number 1319446), private, Company
A, 120th Infantry. For extraordinary heroism in action near Saint-Souplet,
France, October 17-19, 1918. Being a company runner, he displayed marked
bravery, repeatedly crossing heavily shelled areas and exposing himself to
machine-gun fire to deliver important messages, enabling his company to main-tain
adequate liaison.
Home address, John J. Lankford, father, Swepsonville, N. C. (G. O. 81,
W. D„ 1919.)
JOSEPH N. ROBERTSON, first sergeant, Company D, 120th Infantry. For
extraordinary heroism in action near Bellicourt, France, September 29, 1918.
With eight other soldiers, comprising the company headquarters detachment,
he assisted his company commander in cleaning out enemy dugouts along a
canal and capturing 242 prisoners.
Home address, Mrs. Ozzie Robertson, wife, Graham, N. C. (G. O. 37, W. D.,
1919.)
Deceased.
5
30
ALEXANDER COUNTY:
RAYMOND BARNES, private, Company B, 3d Machine Gun Battalion. On
July 18, 1918, near Berzy-le-Sec, France, he was severely wounded by a shell,
but as soon as he regained consciousness he went forward, rejoined former
position in squad, and fought with it until ordered to an aid station by his
platoon commander.
Home address, Green M. Barnes, R. F. D. No. 5, Taylorsville, N. C. (G. O.
109, W. D., 1918.)
WILSON D. BROOKSHIRE, private, Company G, 120th Infantry. For
extraordinary heroism in action near Bellicourt, France, September 29, 1918.
Private Brookshire, with one other soldier, attacked a machine-gun post which
was causing much damage. They captured the post, taking prisoner one officer
and eight men and put the machine gun out of action.
Home address', Mrs. Alice E. Brookshire, mother, Taylorsville, N. C. (G. O.
37, W. D., 1919.)
ALEXIS M. McLEAN (Army serial number 1317178), private, Company K,
119th Infantry. For extraordinary heroism in action near Saint-Souplet,
France, October 10, 1918. After one soldier had been killed and another
wounded in the attempt he carried a message under heavy fire to company
headquarters, bringing up reinforcement which saved his platoon.
Home address, Mrs. Sarah Y. McLain, mother, Hiddenite, N. C. (G. O. 81,
W. D., 1919.)
HERBERT L. MAYS, sergeant, Company G, 120th Infantry. For extraordi-nary
heroism in action near Bellicourt, France, September 29, 1918. Sergeant
Mays, with one other soldier attacked a machine-gun post which was causing
much damage. They captured the post, taking prisoner one officer and eight
men, and put the gun out of action.
Home address, Freeman G. Mays, father, Taylorsville, N. C. (G. O. 37,
W. D., 1919.)
ANSON COUNTY:
JUNIUS DIGGS, private, Company G, 371st Infantry. For extraordinary
heroism in action near Ardeuil, France, September 30, 1918. After his com-pany
had been forced to withdraw from an advanced position under severe
machine-gun and artillery fire, this soldier went forward and rescued wounded
soldiers, working persistently until all of them had been carried to shelter.
Home address, Henry Diggs, father, Lilesville, N. C. (G. O. 46, W. D.,
1919.)
PRESTON ALEXANDER McLENDON, passed assistant surgeon, United
States Navy, attached to the 5th Regiment, United States Marine Corps. For
extraordinary heroism in action near Blanc Mont, France, October 3-4, 1918.
During heavy action he continually pushed his dressing station to more ad-vantageous
positions. Although in great danger because of a severe shelling,
he dressed his patients in an exposed position, using his dugout for the
seriously wounded.
Home address, W. J. McLendon, father, Morven, N. C. (G. O. 37, W. D.,
1919.)
31
ASHE COUNTY:
ROBERT E. L. KILBY, private, first class, Company K, 9th Infantry. For
extraordinary heroism in action near St. Mihiel, France, September 14, 191S.
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.
Home address, Mr. Elijah Kilby, father, Grayson, N. C. (G. O. 46, W. D„
1919.)
WILLIAM M. WALLACE (serial number 1320330), private, first class, Com-pany
E, 120th Infantry. For extraordinary heroism in action near Mazinghien,
France. October 19, 1918. With another soldier Private Wallace volunteered
and rescued a wounded comrade from an exposed position in front of the line,
after two other men had lost their lives in attempting to do so.
Home address, Mrs. Mary Wallace, mother. Othello, N. C. (G. O. 50, W. D.,
1919.)
BLADEN COUNTY:
EDWARD LEDWELL. private, Company H, 131st Infantry. For extraordi-nary
heroism in action near Bois de Chaume, France, October 9, 1918. Ad-vancing
single-handed against a machine gun, Private Lidwell put it out of
action, killing its crew of three and preventing an enfilading fire on the com-pany,
thus saving many lives.
Home address, Wallace Brauon, nephew, 24 Seventeenth St., White Oak,
N. C. (G. O. 37, W. D., 1919.)
*HARVEY L. LEDWELL. sergeant, Company A, 4th Infantry. For extraor-dinary
heroism in action near le Channel, France, July 26, 1918. Although
seriously wounded, he refused aid of his men, who stopped to assist him, order-ing
them forward and directing their attack until they had passed beyond
hearing distance.
Home address, Wallace Brauon, 24 Seventeenth St., White Oak, N. C. (G. O.
32, W. D., 1919.)
ERNEST S. SAVAGE, first lieutenant, 316th Machine Gun Battalion. For
extraordinary heroism in action near Grimacourt. France, November 11, 1918.
Although so sick from gas that he could hardly move, and vomiting heavily
into his gas mask, he successfully conducted the fire of his machine-gun
platoon in the face of heavy shrapnel, gas, and machine-gun fire. He received
no medical attention until late in the afternoon after the attack was over.
Home address, Samuel A. Savage, father. Council, N. C. (G. O. 32, W. D.,
1919.)
BRUNSWICK COUNTY:
FORNEY B. MINTZ, sergeant, Company A, 308th Infantry. For extraor-dinary
heroism in action near Binarville, France, September 28, 191S. Sergt.
Mintz, in command of a platoon, worked his way through the enemy rear
guard and captured five machine guns and an ammunition-carrying party.
Although badly wounded when an organized position of the enemy was en-countered
he made his way back to request reinforcements and brought with
him two german prisoners, from whom valuable information was obtained.
Home address, Sam B. Mintz, father, Mill Branch, N. C. (G. O. 35, W. D.,
1919.)
*Deceased.
32
*BENJAMIN B. SMITH, private, Company A, 119th Infantry. For extraor-dinary
heroism in action near Bellicourt, France, September 29, 1918. After
being wounded twice in making attacks with his own organization, he joined
Australian troops and attacked with them, being wounded a third time before
he consented to be evacuated.
Home address, W. M. Smith, father, Ash, N. C. (G. O. 21, W. D. 1919.)
BUNCOMBE COUNTY:
BRYAN BECKWITH, second lieutenant, Company F, 119th Infantry. For
extraordinary heroism in action near Ypres, Belgium, August 25, 1918. At
imminent peril to his life, Lieutenant Beckwith (then a sergeant) and two
companions extinguished a fire in an ammunition dump, caused by a bursting
shell, thereby preventing the explosion of the dump and saving the lives of a
large number of men who were, in the vicinity.
Home address, Robert B. Beckwith, Black Mountain, N. C. (G. O. 44,
W. D., 1919.)
WILLIAM HERREN, first sergeant, Machine Gun Company, 56th Infantry
(Army serial number 559453). For extraordinary heroism in action near
Ville-Savoye, France, August 7, 1918. He carried guns and ammunition to
the front-line platoons through an intense barrage after several carrying
details had failed to get through. He then volunteered to stay with the right-flank
platoon, which was under heavy fire in an exposed position. During the
afternoon he and one other man pushed forward with a captured machine gun
and assisted materially in breaking up several hostile counter attacks during
the day.
Next of kin, Mrs. H. L. Herren, mother, 22 Herren Avenue, West Asheville,
N. C. (G. O. 64, W. D., 1919.)
HARVEY S. HESTER, first lieutenant, 120th Infantry. For extraordinary
heroism in action near Vaux-Andigny, France, October 10, 1918. Although
severely wounded in the back by shrapnel, he led his platoon forward, covering
a flank of his battalion, which was exposed to heavy enemy fire.
Home address, Mrs. E. G. Hester, Kenilworth Park, Asheville, N. C. (G. O.
35, W. D., 1919.)
HAROLD A. HUDSON, sergeant, first class, Company C, 105th Field Signal
Battalion. For extraordinary heroism in action near Bellicourt, France,
September 29, 1918. Sergeant Hudson and a number of other members of a
signal detachment were wounded by shell fire while proceeding through an
enemy counter-barrage to the front line, but disregarding his own injuries,
this soldier administered first aid to his wounded comrades and then extended
a telephone line to the advance message center, and with five men maintained
and operated the message center.
Residence at enlistment: Asheville, N. C. (G. O. 126, November 11, 1919,
p. 536.)
ETHEN S. KOON, second lieutenant, 119th Infantry. For extraordinary
heroism in action near Ypres, Belgium, August 31, 1918. Ignoring his severe
wound, suffered in the advance of his platoon against the enemy south of
Ypres, he 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.
Home address, Mrs. J. N. Koon, mother, P. O. Box 343, Asheville, N. C.
(G. O. 44, W. D., 1919.)
Deceased.
ROBERT S. PIERCE, private, first class, Company C, 105th Field Signal
Battalion. For extraordinary heroism in action near Bellicourt, France,
September 27, 1918. After the signal detachment of the 118th Infantry had
suffered severe casualties and were no longer able to aid in maintaining lines
between the 118th and 117th Regiments, Private Pierce rendered valuable
services by keeping up the entire line of communication, working day and
night under constant and sweeping artillery fire. Almost uninterrupted service
was maintained between the regiments, owing in great part to his untiring
energy.
Home address, Robert F. Pierce, father, Fire Department, Asheville, N. C.
(G. O. 46, W. D., 1919.)
LOCKWOOD WILLIAMS (Army serial number 2384231), first sergeant,
Company I, 60th Infantry. For extraordinary heroism in action near Clery-le-
Petit, France, November 5, 1918. When his company was held up by a
machine-gun nest, First Sergeant (then Sergeant) Williams, with two soldiers
attacked the nest, killed two gunners and captured eight prisoners. This act
made it possible for his company to advance and clear the bridgehead for the
crossing of the brigade.
Home address, Mrs. Addie Williams, mother, Asheville, N. C. (G. O. 71,
W. D., 1919.)
BURKE COUNTY:
ALBERT L. RUST, master engineer, Company D, 105th Engineers. For
extraordinary heroism in action at Bellicourt, France, September 29, 1918.
He commanded a platoon of Engineers following the first wave of the infantry
for the purpose of clearing a road for the artillery. Under heavy shell and
machine-gun fire, he directed the work with exceptional ability, at one time
leading his platoon in advance of the Infantry. By organizing covering parties
and utilizing two automatic riflemen, who had become separated from their
own unit, he kept his platoon intact, capturing 35 prisoners and cleaning out
three machine-gun nests in the course of his operations. While making a
reconnaissance ahead of his platoon he personally took nine Germans, after
wounding their officer. As a result of his skillful leadership and gallant con-duct
his mission was successfully carried out.
Home address, David L. Rust, father, Morganton, N. C. (G. O. 145, W. D.,
1918.)
CABARRUS COUNTY:
ALBERT LEE CRANFORD (serial number 1310721), private, Company D,
118th Infantry. For extraordinary heroism in action near Bellicourt, France,
September 27, 1918. After all his comrades had been killed or wounded, and
he himself injured by an enemy hand grenade, Private Cranford defended his
post single-handed in the face of a German bombing attack until reinforce-ments
arrived. He then continued on duty with his company, refusing to be
evacuated until he was severely gassed later.
Home address, Mrs. Cora Cranford, sister, Concord, N. C. (G. O. 50, W. D.,
1919.)
ERNEST B. GREEN, private, Company D, 118th Infantry. For extraordi-nary
heroism in action near Bellicourt, France, September 25, 1918. Although
stunned and bruised by a shell which burst in his trench, he went to the aid
of a comrade outside of the trench and brought him to safety. This was in
full view of the enemy and under heavy shelling.
Home address, Mrs. J. M. Green, 18 South Valley Street, Concord, N. C.
(G. O. 37, W. D., 1919.)
34
*CARL O. JONES, private. Company E, 118th Infantry. For extraordinary
heroism in action near Montebrain, France, October 8, 1918. Crawling to the
flanks of a German machine-gun nest, he covered the crew with his rifle from
a distance of 30 yards and captured 12 of the enemy. This gallant soldier
was subsequently killed in action.
Home address, John Jones, Gibson Mill, Concord, N. C. (G. O. 37, W. D.,
1919.)
JOSEPH H. LAUGHLIN (Army serial No. 56681), private, Company A,
28th Infantry. For extraordinary heroism in action near Cantigny, France,
May 28-30, 1918. In command of the battalion runners, Private Laughlin
volunteered to carry messages through 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.-
Home address, J. F. Laughlin, father, 178 Depot Street, Concord, N. C.
(G. O. 98, W. D„ 1919.)
*ALBERT McKAY (Army serial No. 1865857), corporal, Company C, 105th
Engineers. For extraordinary heroism in action near Montbrehain, France,
October 8, 1918. Corporal McKay, a runner, passed unfalteringly through
heavy enemy shell fire to inform platoon leaders of the location of cover from
the advance enemy counter-barrage, continuing to expose himself until all
were protected, thereby preventing many casualties. As he was returning
from this mission he was badly wounded and died shortly afterwards.
Next of kin, Mrs. Belle Branton McKay, Kannapolis, N. C. (G. O. 87,
W. D., 1919.)
THOMAS A. MOORELAND (Army serial number 1312068), private, first
class, Company K, 118th Infantry. For extraordinary heroism in action near
Saint Martin, Revere, France, October 17, 1918. He volunteered to go forward
with another soldier to attack a machine-gun emplacement which was holding
up a part of our line. Advancing over open ground under heavy fire, these
two men destroyed the enemy position, capturing three prisoners and allowing
a resumption of the general advance.
Home address, Sam M. Mooreland, father, 185 Young Street, Concord, N. C.
(G. O. 81, W. D., 1919.)
*VANCE SHANKLE (Army serial No. 1312113), corporal, Company K, 118th
Infantry. For extraordinary heroism in action near St. Martin-Riviere,
France, October 17, 1918. When the advance of his company was held up, he
volunteered to go forward with another soldier, to reduce a machine-gun em-placement.
Advancing in front of our lines, these two soldiers attacked the
enemy position, destroyed it, and captured three prisoners. Corporal Shankle
was killed in action shortly afterwards.
Next of kin, Brooks B. Shankle, brother, Kannapolis, N. C. (G. O. 87,
W. D., 1919.)
ZEBULON B. THORNBURG, first lieutenant, 118th Infantry. For extraor-dinary
heroism in action near Montebrain, France, October 8-16, 1918. Al-though
he was severely wounded on October 8 to such an extent that eating
was impossible, he remained as second in command until the night of October
16, when he was again wounded during an advance by his company.
Home address, Mrs. A. B. Thornburg, West Depot Street, Concord, N. C.
(G. O. 37, W. D., 1919.)
Deceased.
35
CALDWELL COUNTY:
WILLIAM J. McDADE, sergeant, Company B, 117tli Infantry. For ex-traordinary
heroism in action near Geneve, France, October 8, 1918. While
advancing with his platoon on the morning of October 8, Sergeant McDade
was seriously wounded in the hip, but insisted upon remaining with his
platoon. He was again wounded twice by machine-gun fire, but continued to
the objective, where he materially aided in consolidating the position. He
was then ordered to the aid station by his commanding officer and was later
evacuated to the hospital.
Home address, Fletcher R. McDade, brother, Lenoir, N. C. (G. O. 46, W. D.,
1919.)
EDWARD L. SPENCER, second lieutenant, 371st Infantry. For extraor-dinary
heroism in action north of Ardeuil, France, September 30, 1918. Hav-ing
been wounded in the leg by machine-gun fire, he nevertheless continued to
remain with his platoon, leading it successfully through an intense barrage of
machine-gun and artillery fire to its position. He remained on duty with his
command until two days later, when his regimental commander ordered him
to the rear.
Home address, J. T. Spencer, father, Lenoir, N. C. (G. O. 46, W. D., 1919.)
CAMDEN COUNTY:
BURT T. FORBES (Army serial number 1316253), corporal, Company I,
119th Infantry. For extraordinary heroism in action near Ypres, Belgium,
September 1, 1918. While his patrol was acting as a flank guard, with orders
not to fire unless absolutely necessary, he detected an enemy patrol of eight
men approaching and starting to set up a machine gun. Crawling forward
alone, he charged the enemy patrol and, single-handed, killed three Germans
and routed the other five.
Home address, Stephen B. Forbes, father, Old Trap, N. C. (G. O. SI, W. D.,
1919.)
WALTER S. FOREHAND (Army serial No. 1316251), sergeant, Company L,
119th Infantry. For extraordinary heroism in action near Bellicourt, France,
September 29, 1918. Sergeant Forehand showed exceptional bravery and devo-tion
to duty by advancing with another soldier, though separated from his
platoon, in the attack by his regiment on September 29, 1918. They found
four privates, also lost in the smoke and fog, and with this small party pro-ceeded
toward the objective. During their advance they surprised and cap-tured
92 Germans, including several officers, without other aid. They suc-ceeded
in getting all the prisoners back to the military police, and then
rejoined their platoon.
Home address, B. S. Forehand, father, South Mills, N. C. (G. O. 78, W. D.,
1919.)
CARTERET COUNTY:
*YOUMAN Z. WEEKS, corporal, Company F, 118th Infantry. For extraor-dinary
heroism in action near Bellicourt, France, September 30, 1918, and
October 8, 1918. Corporal Weeks on the morning of September 30, when two
enemy machine guns were making a part of the line untenable, advanced across
open ground upon one of the guns, rushed the position alone, captured the gun
and five of the enemy, and shot down the sixth, who endeavored to escape. By
this gallant act he prevented the enemy from enfilading our position and
*Deceased.
36
thereby saved the lives of many of his comrades. In a later advance, while
leading his men in an attack upon an enemy machine-gun nest, he was killed.
Home address, Mrs. Mary Weeks, North Cedar Point, N. C. (G. O. 133,
W. D., 1918.)
CHEROKEE COUNTY:
MONROE C. HOOPER (Army serial No. 1316313), corporal, Company I,
119th Infantry. For extraordinary heroism in action near Busigny, France,
October 10, 1918. Knocked down by the explosion of an explosive bullet be-neath
his helmet, he regained his feet and led the members of his patrol
against a hostile patrol which had been encountered. Though he and his men
were outnumbered nearly five to one, he led the advance against the enemy,
himself killing seven Germans.
Home address, Mrs. Hooper, wife, Andrews, N. C. (G. O. 81, W. D., 1919.)
HENRY G. KELLY, private, Company G, 119th Infantry. For extraordinary
heroism in action near Bellicourt, France, September 20, 1918. Voluntarily
advancing alone against a machine-gun nest which was causing heavy casual-ties
in his platoon, he bombed the enemy position, killing five of the crew and
capturing the remaining three.
Home address, U. E. Kelly, grandfather, Andrews, N. C. (G. O. 46, W. D.,
1919.)
ROBERT McDONALD, private, first-class, Company M, 119th Infantry. For
extraordinary heroism in action near St. Souplet, France, October 9-10, 1918.
He showed exceptional bravery and courage by going forward alone on many
occasions to gain information of the enemy. He remained on duty with his
company after being wounded until ordered to the rear for treatment.
Home address, John Moshburn, uncle, Regal, N. C. (G. O. 37, W. D., 1919.)
DECATUR F. ROSE, private, Company K, 119th Infantry. For extraordi-nary
heroism in action near St. Souplet, France, October 11, 1918. During an
attack by his regiment he was carrying a message from his platoon commander
to company headquarters. On the way he met an enemy patrol, and although
alone, immediately opened fire upon them, continuing to fire, after being
wounded in both legs, until enemy had been completely routed.
Home address, Mr. Stephen L. Rose, father, Unaka, N. C. (G. O. 37, W. D.,
1919.)
CHOWAN COUNTY:
JOHN C. BYRUM (serial No. 1312091), first sergeant, Company E, 120th
Infantry. For extraordinary heroism in action near Bellicourt, France, Sep-tember
29, 1918. Although he was wounded at the very start of the attack,
Sergeant Byrum continued with the advance, reorganizing scattered units and
leading them back to the line. Later his arm was shot off, but he steadily
refused evacuation until loss of blood so weakened him that he was taken to
the rear.
Home address, Mrs. K. E. Byrum, mother, Edenton, N. C. (G. O. 50, W. D.,
1919.)
CLEVELAND COUNTY:
HERBERT O. CHAMPION, private, first-class, sanitary detachment, 105th
Engineers. For extraordinary heroism in action July 16, 1918. When an
enemy airplane dropped a bomb in the camp of his organization, killing one
soldier and wounding seven, including himself, he administered first aid to the
other wounded, helped to carry them to the dressing station, and there gave
37
further assistance in dressing and evacuating the wounded men, never men-tioning
his own serious injuries until he knew that all the others had been
cared for.
Home address, Dr. C. C. Champion, father, Mooresboro, N. C. (G. O. 145,
W. D., 1919.)
THOMAS B. GOLD, first lieutenant, Medical Corps, 119th Infantry. For
extraordinary heroism in action near Busigny, France, October 9, 1918, and
Mazinghein, France, October 18-19, 1918. During the attack of October 9, he
established his aid post in a roadside shrine up with the front line, where he
rendered valuable assistance to the wounded. On another occasion he estab-lished
alone a post close to the front line, where he again gave treatment until
the heavy fire of the enemy forced him to withdraw. During the advance of
October 18-19, he established another front-line post under the enemy fire, and
thus saved the lives of many of the troops.
Home address, Mrs. T. B. Gold, wife, Lawndale, N. C. (G. O. 44, W. D.,
1919.)
DENNIS C. TURNER, captain, 30th Infantry. For extraordinary heroism
in action near Mezy, France, July 15, 1918. Although completely surrounded
and his ammunition exhausted, Captain (then lieutenant) Turner refused to
surrender. Assembling his platoon of about 18 men, he made a dash for our
lines through the enemy's machine-gun and rifle fire, and by taking advantage
of all available cover and using grenades and ammunition found on the way,
succeeded in joining our troops.
Home address, Mrs. E. F. Turner, Shelby, N. C. (G. O. 32, W. D., 1919.)
COLUMBUS COUNTY:
ROBERT F. LEWIS, corporal, Company G, 119th Infantry. For extraor-dinary
heroism in action near Bellicourt, France, September 29, 1918. His
section having been stopped by a concealed machine gun, Corporal Lewis, on
his own initiative, crawled forward alone over ground swept by machine-gun
fire. Attacking the nest with bombs and firing at it with his rifle, he killed
the entire crew, numbering seven, and thereby cleared the way for the further
advance of his section.
Home address, Mrs. Errie A. Lewis, wife, Wananish, N. C. (G. O. 46, W. D.,
1919.)
CRAVEN COUNTY:
JOHN C. DUFFY, second lieutenant, Company F, 53d Infantry. For ex-traordinary
heroism in action near Landersbach, Alsace, October 4, 1918. Dur-ing
an attack by a German raiding party of about 300 men he took command of
a post where the five men manning it had been killed or wounded by liquid fire.
By his coolness and fearless exposure of himself he was able to hold the post
with a small reinforcement. After the raid he removed some 20 grenades
which had become dangerously hot, due to the fire, and were about to explode.
Home address, Mrs. W. C. Blanchard, mother, 28 Pollock St., New Bern,
N. C. (G. O. 130, W. D., 1918.)
RAY F. SHUPP, first lieutenant, 4th Infantry. For extraordinary heroism
in action near Gland, France, July 21, 1918. After crossing the Marne with
the leading platoon of his company, Lieutenant Shupp, with two companions,
made a surprise attack on the enemy machine-gun emplacement and suc-ceeded
in taking one gun and eight prisoners.
Residence at appointment: 33 National Avenue, New Bern, N. C. (G. O.
126, W. D. Nov. 11, 1919, p. 547.)
38
*LAWRENCE E. THOMPSON, corporal, Company F, 16th Infantry. For
extraordinary heroism in action near Boissons, France, July 19, 1918. In
order to ascertain the location of a machine-gun which was inflicting heavy
losses upon his platoon, he unhesitatingly went forward and was killed in the
performance of this courageous duty.
Home address, Ulysses G. Thompson, uncle, Thurman, N. C. (G. O. 15,
W. D., 1919.)
CUMBERLAND COUNTY:
EDGAR BLANCHARD (Army serial No. 1880391), private, Company G,
120th Infantry. For extraordinary heroism in action near Bellicourt, France,
September 29, 1918. He displayed marked personal bravery, capturing single-handed
seven Germans whom he came upon in a trench and dugout. While
taking the prisoners to the rear he met a wounded soldier, and preferring to
return to the firing line, turned the prisoners over to the wounded man and
rejoined his squad.
Home address, Mrs. Addie Blanchard, mother, Fayetteville, N. C. (G. O. 81,
W. D., 1919.)
DANIEL B. BYRD, first lieutenant, Company F, 119th Infantry. For ex-traordinary
heroism in action near Escafourt, France, October 10, 1918. Lead-ing
a small detachment under heavy fire, while the regiment was making an
advance, he encountered stiff resistance which threatened to cut his detachment
from the main line. By his utter disregard of the great danger, and the
prompt placing of his automatic rifles, he made it possible for his detachment
to return to the lines. He was wounded by shrapnel, but he remained with
the men until ordered to the rear by his commanding officer.
Home address, Mr. W. J. Byrd, brother, Fayetteville, N. C. (G. O. 37,
W. D., 1919.)
OTIS R. DOUGLAS, private, Company C, 119th Infantry. For extraor-dinary
heroism in action near Bellicourt, France, September 29, 1918. Hear-ing
cries of distress from a disabled tank, he assisted an officer by advancing
in the face of terrific machine-gun and shell fire to the spot. Notwithstanding
the fact that the tank was subject to point-blank fire of artillery, he succeeded
in rescuing the badly wounded tank commander and removing him to a place
of safety.
Home address, Mrs. Otis R. Douglas, wife, R. F. D. No. 1, Fayetteville, N. C.
(G. O. 44, W. D., 1919.)
EDGAR S. W. DRAUGHON, private, Sanitary Detachment, 120th Infantry.
For extraordinary heroism in action near St. Quentin, France, September 29
to October 20, 1918. Throughout this period Private Draughon labored un-ceasingly
in evacuating the wounded from the front line to the battalion aid
post. On October 19, with complete disregard for his personal safety, he
advanced under heavy shell and machine-gun fire beyond the front line, ren-dered
first aid to a wounded officer and assisted him to the rear.
Home address, Mrs. G. W. Draughon, mother, R. F. D. No. 2, Fayetteville,
N. C. (G. O. 35, W. D., 1919.)
WALTER J. FILLYAW (Army serial No. 2340137), private, Medical De-tachment,
4th Infantry, 3rd Division. For extraordinary heroism in action
near Cunel, France, October 5, 1918. Having been wounded and ordered to the
rear, Private Fillyaw nevertheless continued to administer first-aid treatment
Deceased.
to other wounded men under constant shell fire, until he was wounded a
second time, when he was evacuated, despite his protests.
Residence at enlistment: Fayetteville, N. C. (G. O. 126, W. D. Nov. 11,
1919, p. 532.)
*HENRY H. HALL (Army serial No. 1316674), private, Company L, 119th
Infantry. For extraordinary heroism in action near Voormezeele, Belgium,
August 31, 1918. When the carrier of a Lewis gun crew was killed, he took
his place, and the ammunition becoming exhausted, volunteered to go for a
new supply under heavy fire. Wounded while on this mission, he opened fire
on the enemy with his rifle, engaging a hostile patrol until he was mortally
wounded by a second bullet.
Next of kin, Horace W. Hall, father, R. F. D. No. 2, Hope Mills, N. C.
(G. O. 87, W. D., 1919.)
ROBERT J. LAMB, major, 119th Infantry. For extraordinary heroism
in action near Bellicourt, France, September 29, 1918. In command of a
company he, with two other men, rushed a machine-gun post which was hold-ing
up the advance, killing the German crew. Later, separated from part of
his command, owing to a dense smoke screen, he found himself with a few
men in front of three German machine-gun nests. Leading the attack, he
captured the enemy positions with 25 prisoners.
Home address, Mrs. James W. Lamb, mother, Fayetteville, N. C. (G. O. 81,
W. D., 1919.)
NOEL E. PATON, sergeant, Company A, 344th Battalion, Tank Corps. For
extraordinary heroism in action near Woel, France, September 14, 1918.
While on a reconnaissance patrol under heavy machine-gun fire he was seri-ously
wounded and ordered to the rear. Refusing to seek safety, he crawled
to the assistance of two comrades whom he had seen disappear under a burst
of shrapnel, and with one arm useless, attempted to render aid while he was
himself suffering from loss of blood.
Home address, Mrs. J. L. Allen, mother, Fayetteville, N. C. (G. O. 46,
W. D., 1919.)
GEORGE B. WARD, private, Company D, 119th Infantry. For extraor-dinary
heroism in action near Bellicourt, France, September 29, 1918. When
his company was halted by enemy machine-gun fire, Private Ward rushed the
hostile position and killed one gunner with his bayonet. Later in the engage-ment
he came upon 20 of the enemy in a trench. He bayoneted 3 of these and
took the others prisoners. He was severely wounded in the action.
Home address, Thomas Ward, father, Fayetteville, N. C. (G. O. 44, W. D.,
1919.)
DARE COUNTY:
ELWOOD TWIFORD (Army serial No. 1314770), private, Company A,
119th Infantry. For extraordinary heroism in action near Bellicourt, France,
September 29, 1918. Having become separated from the remainder of his
squad in a heavy fog and being surrounded by several enemy machine gun-ners,
Private Twiford set up his automatic rifle, and within a few minutes
killed or captured all of the enemy near him.
Home address, W. J. Twiford, father, East Lake, N. C. (G. O. 87, W. D.,
1919.) (See also G. O. 98, W. D., 1919, page 18.)
*Deceased.
40
DAVIDSON COUNTY:
DUNCAN J. DEVANE, sergeant, Company C, 115th Machine-Gun Bat-talion.
For extraordinary heroism in action near Ypres, Belgium, August 23,
1918. Upon learning that several members of his platoon had been wounded
by enemy shell fire, he immediately left his dugout and went to their assistance.
After carrying one man to shelter and being knocked down by a bursting shell
in so doing, he returned to the shelled area and helped carry the rest of the
wounded men to the dressing station 500 yards away across a field which was
being heavily bombarded with gas and high-explosive shells.
Home address, Dr. James D. Devane, father, East Arcadia, N. C. (G. O. 35,
W. D., 1919.)
JOHN W. FAUST, sergeant, Machine-gun Company, 38th Infantry. For
extraordinary heroism in action near Cunel, France, October 22, 1918. After
all the officers of his company had been wounded, Sergeant Faust (then cor-poral)
assumed command, and with great courage and bravery organized a
detachment, recapturing two of his machine guns that had fallen to the enemy
in a counter-attack in the earlier days.
Home address, T. W. Faust, father, R. F. D. No. 2, Lexington, N. C.
WILLIAM J. PARKER (Army serial No. 1319291), sergeant, Company A,
120th Infantry. For extraordinary heroism in action near Bellicourt, France,
September 29, 1918. Severely wounded in the abdomen while in charge of a
detail carrying up trench mortar ammunition, he refused to be evacuated,
advancing 500 yards, until his left arm was blown off by shell fire. Refusing
to be carried on a stretcher, which he said was needed for more severely
wounded men, he walked 2 kilometers to the first-aid station.
Home address, Joseph C. Parker, Lexington, N. C. (G. O. 81, W. D., 1919.)
ANDREW H. VARNER (Army serial No. 1315405), private, first-class,
Company D, 119th Infantry. For extraordinary heroism in action near Belli-court,
France, September 29, 1918. Seeing that wounded companion had been
abandoned by stretcher-bearers because of intense enemy shelling, he took two
enemy prisoners, and going out with them for 75 yards through heavy fire,
rescued the wounded soldier.
Home address, Mrs. Jane Varner, mother, Thomasville, N. C. (G. O. 81,
W. D., 1919.)
RAY WILLIAMS (Army serial No. 1319337), bugler, Company A, 120th
Infantry. For extraordinary heroism in action near Vaux Andigny, France,
October 8-12, 1918. Throughout this period Bugler Williams, acting as com-pany
runner, showed utter disregard for personal safety in carrying messages
under fire. On October 10, when the advance of his company was checked by
enemy machine-gun and direct artillery fire, he carried a message of great
importance to battalion headquarters and returned with an answer through a
hail of bullets and shells. He continued to carry messages until he dropped
from sheer exhaustion, and even then begged to be permitted to resume his
duties.
Home address, M. T. Williams, father, Lexington, N. C. (G. O. 87, W. D.,
1919.) (See also G. O. 98, W. D., 1919, page 38.)
DAVIE COUNTY:
*CHARLES JORDAN (Army serial No. 1316133), private, Company H,
119th Infantry. For extraordinary heroism in action near Bellicourt, France,
September 29, 1918. He repeatedly exposed himself to enemy fire to save his
Deceased.
41
comrades, going forward in advance of our lines to attack machine-gun nests.
After reducing one enemy nest with rifle grenades, he proceeded to attack
another, and while doing so was killed by enemy snipers.
Next of kin, George W. Jordan, father, Coleemee, N. C. (G. O. 87, W. D.,
1919.)
DUPLIN COUNTY:
ISHAM R. WILLIAMS, second lieutenant, 7th Infantry. For extraordinary
heroism in action near Fossey, France, July 21, 1918. He led a patrol across
the Marne River under intense machine-gun fire, and when his boat was sunk
twice swam the river to correct the fire of his covering detachment and to
bring his patrol to safety after their mission had been accomplished.
Home address, Mary Lyde Hicks Williams, mother, Faison, N. C. (G. O. 44,
W. D„ 1919.)
DURHAM COUNTY:
THOMAS P. BANE (Army serial No. 1307266), corporal, Company C, 117th
Infantry. For extraordinary heroism in action near Busigny, France, October
9, 1918. Corporal Bane, while leading his squad in the advance with his
company, was wounded by a machine-gun bullet in the head. Despite his
wound he continued in the advance until the objective was reached and the
position consolidated. Corporal Bane on the day previous, in company with
two comrades, rushed a nearby machine-gun nest, killing five of the enemy
and capturing the remainder.
Home address, Daniel D. Bane, father, 203 Elm Street, Durham, N. C.
(G. O. 78, W. D., 1919.)
OLLIE POPE, private, Company C, 120th Infantry. For extraordinary
heroism in action between St. Quentin and Cambrai, France, October 9, 1918.
He was wounded in action between St. Quentin and Cambrai, France, and
after having his wounds dressed, he was unable to locate his company. He
returned, however, to the front line and fought throughout the day, locating
and returning to his own organization after dark.
Home address, Mrs. Martha M. Pope, 1101 Worth Street, Durham, N. C.
(G. O. 37, W. D., 1919.)
LAWRENCE STANFIELD, color sergeant, Headquarters Company, 120th
Infantry. For extraordinary heroism in action near Bellicourt, France, Sep-tember
28, 1918. While attached to the regimental intelligence service he was
severely gassed, but after receiving first-aid treatment he insisted on return-ing
to duty. Gassed a second time and relieved for a short period, he per-sonally
made a search for wounded men, and finding a large number, went to
the aid station and brought stretcher-bearers. He continued this work until
he was blinded by the effects of the gas.
Home address, R. H. Stanfield, father, 705 East Main Street, Durham, N. C.
(G. O. 133, W. D., 1918.)
HUBERT O. TEER, first lieutenant, Company L, 371st Infantry. For
extraordinary heroism in action at Ardeuil, France, September 29, 1917.
Severely wounded in the back about 11 a. m., Lieutenant Teer continued to
command his platoon until 4 p. m., when he was forced to withdraw from
action on account of complete exhaustion.
Home address, Mr. Nello L. Teer, brother, Durham, N. C. (G. O. 21, W. D.,
1919.)
42
EDGECOMBE COUNTY:
SAMUEL R. BROWN, sergeant, Company F, 322d Infantry. For extraordi-nary
heroism in action November 9, 1918, near Moranville and Grimacourt,
France. After having been wounded in the afternoon of November 9, he had
this wound dressed and returned to his platoon through very heavy enemy
artillery and machine-gun fire. When his platoon was relieved he returned to
the former position through enemy artillery fire to the rescue of a wounded
man and assisted him to the rear.
Home address, J. F. Brown, father, Macclesfield, N. C. (G. O. 32, W. D..
1919.)
THOMAS W. CARLISLE (Army serial No. 1315229), sergeant, Company
D, 119th Infantry. For extraordinary heroism in action near Bellicourt,
France, September 29, 1918, and near St. Souplet, France, October 12, 1918.
He volunteered with two comrades and went in advance of our lines, under
heavy machine-gun fire, and rescued a wounded soldier. Later, when his
platoon had been reduced to four men, he inspired them by his personal
courage to hold their position until reinforcements arrived.
Home address, Mrs. Bessie C. Cobb, sister, Tarboro, N. C. (G. O. 81, W. D..
1919.)
THOMAS H. ROYSTER, first lieutenant, Medical Corps, attached to 30th
Infantry. For extraordinary heroism in action near Crexancy, France, July
15, 1918. When casualties during the offensive of July 15, 1918, had become
so great that it was necessary to work in the open, Lieutenant Royster exposed
himself to the severe fire for ten hours, dressing and caring for the wounded.
Residence at appointment: Tarboro, N. C. (G. O. 126, W. D., Nov. 11, 1918,
page 546.)
GARLAND SPAIN, corporal, Company E, 322d Infantry. For extraordi-nary
heroism in action near Moranville, France, November 9, 1918. Leading
his squad against six enemy machine guns, during which time he was hit
twice from the exacting fire therefrom, he drove the enemy from the strong-hold,
making possible the further advance of his company.
Home address, Mrs. Mattie Hines, sister, Rocky Mount, N. C. (G. O. 32,
W. D., 1919.)
CHARLES F. STEPHENSON (Army serial No. 1329349), corporal, Com-pany
D, 105th Engineers. For extraordinary heroism in action at Bellicourt,
France, September 29, 1918. As Corporal Stephenson and his squad were
engaged in planking over a shell hole, they were fired on from the side.
Locating the course of the fire by a flash, he attacked the enemy position with
his rifle, killing one German, taking two prisoners, and clearing the adjacent
shell holes. His quick initiative and bravery saved the lives of his men and
prevented an interruption of their work.
Home address, Mrs. Delia Dupree Stephenson, wife, Rocky Mount, N. C.
(G. O. 98, W. D., 1919.)
FORSYTH COUNTY:
MACK C. BYRD, first sergeant, Company D, 2d Engineers. For extraordi-nary
heroism in action near Bois de Belleau, France, June 3, 1918. Although
badly wounded and suffering intense pain, Sergeant Byrd refused evacuation,
remaining and assisting his commanding officer throughout the operations.
Home address, Frank W. Byrd, brother, Zeigler Street, Winston-Salem,
N. C. (G. O. 23, W. D., 1919.)
43
JAMES O. JORDAN, private, Company H, 117th Infantry. For extraordi-nary
heroism in action near Busigny, France, October 9, 1918. When his
platoon was subjected to heavy machine-gun fire from the front and flanks.
Private Jordan courageously operated his automatic rifle from an exposed
position with such good effect that lire superiority was maintained until rein-forcements
arrived.
Home address, Mrs. Clara Jordan, wife, 303 Devonshire Street, Winston-
Salem, N. C. (G. O. 37, W. D., 1919.)
MACK O. OLIVER, sergeant, Company H, 28th Infantry. For extraordi-nary
heroism in action west of the Meuse, France, October 11, 1918. After
having been severely wounded by shrapnel, he refused to leave the lines,
realizing the urgent need of men. After being relieved, he walked to the
dressing station, despite his weakness from loss of blood and his painful
suffering from the wound.
Home address, Mack Oliver, father. Second and Shady Ave., Winston-
Salem, N. C. (G. O. 44, W. D., 1919.)
^HERBERT S. TURRENTINE, private, Company C, 119th Infantry. For
extraordinary heroism in action near Ypres, Belgium, August 31, 1918. After
his platoon sergeant and a corporal had been shot while firing an automatic
rifle, he ran forward across an open space and picked up the gun, but was
instantly killed by sniper fire while attempting to get the automatic gun back
into action.
Home address, Mrs. J. P. Shaw, sister, R. F. D. No. 3, Winston-Salem. N. C.
(G. O. 44, W. D., 1919.)
DONALD L. WAGNER, sergeant, 314th Ambulance Company, 304th Sani-tary
Train. For extraordinary heroism in action near Montfaucon, France,
September 29, 1918. He heard a cry for help while in a dugout having his
own wounds dressed. Although it was during a particularly heavy shell fire,
he immediately went outside and carried the wounded man to shelter. Later
that day, when the dressing station caught fire, he made his way into the
burning dressing station under heavy shell fire and secured surgical equip-ment
necessary to save a patient's life.
Home address, John L. Wagner, father, 2514 North Liberty Street, Winston-
Salem, N. C. (G. O. 37, W. D.. 1919.)
FRANKLIN COUNTY:
DALTON SMITH (Army serial No. 1319720), private, Company B, 120th
Infantry. For extraordinary heroism in action near Mazinghein, France,
October 19, 1918. Acting as a scout, Private Smith fearlessly advanced ahead
of his company under heavy fire and sent back all obtainable information to
the company commander. While standing erect in the open and directing
effective rifle fire at the retreating enemy, he was seriously wounded.
Home address, Dalton Smith, father, Louisburg, N. C.
GASTON COUNTY:
*BEN F. DIXON, captain, 120th Infantry. For extraordinary heroism in
action, near Vaux, Andigny, France, September 29-1918. He was severely
wounded during the early part of the operations against the Hindenburg line
;
his company having only one officer he remained on duty. Shortly afterwards
he received a second wound and again refused to leave his men. When he
'Deceased.
44
saw that the front waves of his company were getting into a barrage, he at
once went forward to stop them, and while doing so he was killed.
Home address, Mrs. B. F. Dixon, Sr., Gastonia, N. C. (G. O. 133, W. D.,
1918.)
JAMES W. HOLLAND, sergeant, first-class, Company D, 105th Engineers.
For extraordinary heroism in action near Bellicourt, France, September 29,
1918. While suffering from severe wounds, and still subjected to intense
artillery fire, Sergeant Holland directed the evacuation of his platoon com-mander,
and fully instructed his junior sergeant before he would allow him-self
to be evacuated.
Home address, Mrs. James C. Holland, mother, Gastonia, N. C. (G. O. 21,
W. D., 1919.)
GATES COUNTY:
*WALLACE GREEN, sergeant, Company M, 6th Infantry. For extraordi-nary
heroism in action at Frapelle, France, August 17, 1918. He unhesitat-ingly
and with great coolness and courage went forward under a heavy enemy
barrage to destroy wire entanglements and continued this hazardous work
until killed.
Home address, Mrs. Elizabeth Green, mother, Eure, N. C. (G. O. 15, W. D.,
1919.)
GRANVILLE COUNTY:
JAMES M. ELLINGTON, first lieutenant, 120th Infantry. For extraordi-nary
heroism in action near Bellicourt, France, September 29, 1918. Severely
wounded in an attack, he refused to stop for first-aid, leading his men forward
under heavy fire. When, after several hours fighting, he was ordered to the
rear by his battalion commander, he returned to the front line after having
his wound dressed, directing the work of reorganizing his command and con-solidating
the position that had been won.
Home address, James M. Ellington, father, Oxford, N. C. (G. O. 81, W. D.,
1919.)
GRAHAM W. HARRIS, sergeant, Machine-gun Company, 120th Infantry.
For extraordinary heroism in action near Bellicourt, France, September 29,
1918. Becoming separated from his platoon in the dense smoke and fog with
five other soldiers, Sergeant Harris kept his men together and continued the
advance under heavy artillery and machine-gun fire. Upon reaching the ob-jective,
he made a personal reconnaissance 600 yards to the front, captured
several prisoners, and assisting in breaking up three machine-gun nests. He
remained in this advanced position until he was ordered back.
Home address, Mrs. R. W. Harris, mother, Oxford, N. C. (G. O. 44, W. D.,
1919.)
*PAUL B. JENKINS, sergeant, Headquarters Company, 315th Infantry.
For extraordinary heroism in action near Gibercy, France, November 11, 1918.
While installing telephone line his regiment started an attack. The enemy
responded with a terrific barrage, and before the communication was com-pleted
Sergeant Jenkins was in the midst of a heavy encounter. Bravely he
remained at his post, endeavoring to establish telephone service, but was
instantly killed by shell fire.
Home address, Mrs. Eunice G. Strother, sister, Granville County, Frank-linton,
N. C. (G. O. 37, W. D., 1919.)
Deceased.
45
JOHN B. MAYES, Jr., captain, 120th Infantry. For extraordinary heroism
in action near Belliconrt, France, September 29, 1918. Captain Mayes, with
eight other soldiers, comprising his company headquarters' detachment, cleaned
out enemy dugouts along the banks of a canal, capturing 242 prisoners.
Home address, John B. Mayes, father, Stem, N. C. (G. O. 37, W. D., 1919.)
WILLIAM H. POWELL, sergeant, Machine-gun Company, 120th Infantry.
For extraordinary heroism in action near Bellicourt, France, September 29,
191S. Sergeant Powell, then a private, took charge of four other soldiers who
had become separated from their platoon and led them forward toward the
objective. Attacking a machine-gun nest, they captured seven prisoners and a
Maxim gun, which they immediately put into action and fired 2,000 rounds at
the enemy. They then continued to advance under heavy artillery and
machine-gun fire.
Home address, J. B. Powell, father, Oxford, N. C. (G. O. 44, W. D., 1919.)
GUILFORD COUNTY:
ROBERT L. CAMPBELL, first lieutenant, 368th Infantry. For extraordi-nary
heroism in action near Binarville, France, September 27, 1918. In the
afternoon of September 27, Lieutenant Campbell saw a runner fall wounded
in the middle of a field swept by heavy machine-gun fire. At imminent
peril to his own life, and in full view of the enemy, he crossed the field and
carried the wounded soldier to shelter.
Home address, Mrs. Alice B. Campbell, wife, 913 Lindsay Street, Greens-boro,
N. C. (G. O. 27, W. D. 1919.)
DELBERT FARRINGTON (Army serial No. 317910), sergeant, Company M,
312th Infantry. For extraordinary heroism in action at Novitskaya, Siberia,
July 2, 1919. After his platoon commander was severely wounded, he assumed
command of the platoon and led it in such a skillful manner as to gain supe-riority
of fire and drive the enemy from his position without further loss to the
platoon.
Residence at enlistment: Box 52, Greensboro, N. C. (G. O. 133, W. D.
Dec. 20, 1919.)
HARVEY M. LEDWELL, sergeant, Company A, 4th Infantry. For ex-traordinary
heroism in action near le Channel, France, July 26, 1918. Although
very seriously wounded, he refused aid of his men, who stopped to assist him,
ordering them forward and directing their attack until they had passed beyond
hearing distance.
Emergency address: Wallace H. Branon, nephew, 24 Seventeenth St., White
Oak, N. C. Residence at enlistment: Greensboro, N. C. (G. O. 125, W. D.
Nov. 11, 1919, page 539.)
ERNEST MORGAN, private, Company L, 118th Infantry. For extraordinary
heroism in action near Vaux-Andigny, France, October 12, 1918. While his
company was consolidating its position, he crept into a shell hole 50 yards from
the enemy's lines. He remained there throughout the day without food or
water and sniped at and killed ten of the enemy. His deadly aim kept down
the observation from the German lines and enabled his company to carry on
the work of consolidation.
Home address, C. A. Morgan, father, 500 Wise Street, High Point, N. C.
(G. O. 133, W. D., 1918.)
46
HALIFAX COUNTY:
WILLIE HIGSON, corporal, Company C, 120th Infantry. For extraordi-nary
heroism in action near Bellicourt, France, September 29, 1918. He
showed extraordinary heroism and courage in leading his men under heavy
shrapnel and enfilading machine-gun fire during the attack on the Hindenburg
line. During a temporary halt he acted as runner through this fire, and
attempted to return after being severely wounded.
Home address, Mrs. W. B. Higson, mother, Rosemary, N. C. (G. O. 37,
W. D., 1919.)
*ERNEST HYMAN, private, Machine-gun Company, 120th Infantry. For
extraordinary heroism in action near Bellicourt, France, September 29, 1918.
Becoming separated from his organization in the smoke and fog, Private
Hyman joined another soldier and was instrumental in breaking up three
machine-gun nests and capturing four prisoners. After reaching the objective,
he volunteered and accompanied a reconnaissance patrol 600 yards beyond the
line to the enemy. He has since been killed in action.
Home address, Mrs. J. E. Hyman, mother, Route No. 1, Palmyra, N. C.
HARNETT COUNTY:
OLLIE R. LINK, cook, Company M, 119th Infantry. For extraordinary
heroism in action near St. Souplet, France, October 9-10, 1918. Hearing that
the casualties in his company were very heavy, he left his place in the kitchen
and joined his comrades on the front line. From there he advanced alone a
distance of 200 yards and located two machine-gun nests, the journey being
done in the face of heavy enemy fire.
Home address, Mr. Jesse B. Link, father, Buies Creek, N. C. (G. O. 37,
W. D., 1919.)
HAYWOOD COUNTY:
JOHN CARVER (Army serial number 1316155), corporal, Company H, 119th
Infantry. For extraordinary heroism in action near Bellicourt, France, Sep-tember
29, 1918. With another soldier he attacked and demolished two enemy
machine-gun posts 200 yards in advance of our lines. He then stood guard at
the entrance of a dugout while the other soldier entered it and brought out
75 Germans and 3 officers, who were taken back to the line as prisoners.
Home address, Mrs. Mary Carver, mother, Plott, N. C. (G. O. 81, W. D.,
1919.)
HENDERSON COUNTY:
ALEXANDER HOLLINGSWORTH, corporal, Company B, 354th Infantry.
For extraordinary heroism in action near Remonville, France, November 1,
1918. He led his combat group against a machine-gun position through an
intense machine-gun and artillery fire, and although severely wounded, took
part in the capture of the machine gun and crew. He refused to be evacuated
until he had reported to his company commander.
Home address, Isaac A. Hollingsworth, father, Flat Rock, N. C. (G. O. 44,
W. D., 1919.)
EDGAR E. McDOWELL, private, Company F, 118th Infantry. For ex-traordinary
heroism in action near Monterehain, France, October 8, 1918.
When the second wave of his company was confronted by two enemy machine-gun
posts, which had been passed over by the first wave, Private McDowell,
Deceased
47
from a prone position, sniped at these posts and then rushed one of them. In
so doing he was wounded in the wrist, hut he continued on and succeeded in
killing two Germans and capturing four others. The other posts, containing
twenty of the enemy, surrendered shortly afterwards.
Residence at enlistment: Hendersonville, N. C. (G. O. 126, W. D. Nov. 11,
1919, page 540.)
GEORGE BLAIN WARD, sergeant, Company A, 118th Infantry. For ex-traordinary
heroism in action near Brancourt, France, October 8, 1918. Taking
command of the company after all officers had become casualties, he reor-ganized
it and led it under hostile shelling and withering machine-gun fire to
its objective. He remained in command until painfully wounded on the
following day.
Home address, Mrs. E. W. Ward, mother, Brickton, N. C. (G. O. 35, W. D.,
1919.)
IREDELL COUNTY:
* SAMUEL C. HART, private, first-class, Company G, 119th Infantry. For
extraordinary heroism in action near Bellicourt, France, September 29, 1918.
After having been seriously wounded in the arm, which caused much pain
and loss of blood, he continued to advance, carrying a Lewis gun, and pouring
aii 'effective fire into the ranks of the enemy until he was killed in the attack.
Home address, Samuel B. Hart, father, R. F. D. No. 3, Mooresville, N. C.
(G. O. 46, W. D., 1919.)
JULIAN K. MORRISON, second lieutenant, Tank Corps. For extraordinary
heroism in action in the Bois Quart de Reserve, France, September 12, 1918.
Preceding his tanks on foot, Lieutenant Morrison captured a machine-gun
nest. Though he was twice wounded, he continued in action for two days
thereafter.
For the following acts of extraordinary heroism in action near Very, France,
September 28, 1918, Lieutenant Morrison is awarded an oak-leaf cluster, to
be worn with the distinguished service cross. During the attack on Charpentry
and the Bois de Montrebeau, he led a platoon of five tanks, directing his tanks
on foot, 400 yards in advance of the infantry, under intense fire. Three of
his tanks were put out of action by artillery fire, but he continued in action
with the remaining two until dark, when he directed the work of rescuing the
crews.
Home address, Mr. A. J. Salley, 247 East Broad Street, Statesville, N. C.
(G. O. 46, W. D., 1919.)
JACKSON COUNTY:
JULIUS JESSE BRYSON (Army serial No. 1310635), first lieutenant, Com-pany
D, 118th Infantry. For extraordinary heroism in action near Bellicourt,
France, September 27, 1918. Although wounded very seriously in the knee by
Shrapnel, Sergeant Bryson remained in charge of his platoon for more than
24 hours, during a critical period of the operations. Due to his excellent
example of courage, leadership, and skill in handling them, his platoon suc-cessfully
repelled a number of enemy attacks during this period of time.
Home address, S. J. Bryson, father, Webster, N. C. (G. O. 64, W. D., 1919.)
*WALTER WALDROOP (Army serial No. 55383), private, first-class,
Machine-gun Company, 26th Infantry, 1st Division. For extraordinary heroism
in action near Verdun, France, October 9, 1918. Private Waldroop, with an
officer and six other soldiers, drove off a violent assault of 50 of the enemy
Deceased.
48
after a terrific pistol and grenade fight, thereby holding Hill 269, which was of
the utmost tactical importance. During the fighting Private Waldroop was
killed.
Emergency address: Mrs. E. H. Waldroop, mother, Sylva, N. C. Residence
at Enlistment: Sylva, N. C. (G. O. 126, W. D. Nov. 11, 1919, page 550.)
JOHNSTON COUNTY:
*WILLIAM C. BARBOUR, private, first-class, Company C, 119th Infantry.
For extraordinary heroism in action near Busigny, France, October 9, 1918.
During the operations near Busigny on October 9, he, with one other soldier,
voluntarily left his place of comparative safety and advanced into the open in
the face of close-range machine-gun fire to rescue a severely wounded com-rade.
He received a severe wound while engaged in this self-appointed task,
from which he later died.
Home address, Mrs. Mandy Barbour, mother, R. F. D. No. 1, Smithfield,
N. C. (G. O. 44, W. D., 1919.)
ELIJAH A. CAPPS, private, Company G, 120th Infantry. For extraordinary
heroism in action near Bellicourt, France, September 29, 1918. In the face of
heavy machine-gun fire, Private Capps, with two other soldiers, attacked and
put out of action an enemy machine-gun post, capturing a German officer and
three soldiers.
Home address, Mrs. Lillie Capps, wife, R. No. 2, Princeton, N. C. (G. O.
37, W. D., 1919.)
DEWITT HARDISON, private, first-class, Company G, 105th Field Signal
Battalion. For extraordinary heroism in action near Bellicourt, France, Sep-tember
29, 1918. Being a member of a detail to establish communication with
the front line, Private Hardison was caught in an enemy barrage, during
which his detail suffered many casualties. Although badly gassed, he con-tinued
to work for the entire day, always exposed to heavy artillery fire, after
which he assisted in the removal of the wounded.
Home address, Mrs. A. H. Hardison, Kenly, N. C. (G. O. 21, W. D., 1919.)
CARLTON STEPHENSON, corporal, Company B, 120th Infantry. For ex-traordinary
heroism in action near Catillon, France, October 18, 1918. Se-verely
wounded, he remained with his automatic rifle section in an exposed
position, covering the withdrawal of his company. Although almost sur-rounded,
he inflicted severe losses on the enemy and held his position through-out
the day.
Home address, Mrs. Bidie A. Stephenson, mother, Clayton, N. C. (G. O. 35,
W. D., 1919.)
LEE COUNTY:
ALVIN O. BRIDGES, private, first-class, Company D, 120th Infantry. For
extraordinary heroism in action near Bellicourt, France, September 29, 1918.
With eight other soldiers, comprising the company headquarters detachment,
he assisted his company commander in cleaning out enemy dugouts along a
canal and capturing 242 prisoners.
Home address, Mrs. R. D. Bridges, mother, R. No. 3, Jonesboro, N. C. (G. O.
37, W. D„ 1919.)
Deceased.
49
LENOIR COUNTY:
PAUL G. HAWKINS (Army serial No. 1317111), sergeant, Machine-gun
Company, 119tli Infantry. For extraordinary heroism in action near Belli-court,
France, September 2S-29, 1918. As a platoon runner he showed marked
personal bravery, repeatedly carrying important messages over shell-swept
areas and under heavy machine-gun fire, sometimes for a distance of two
miles. He remained constantly on duty for two days, and when his section
leader became separated from his section, took command and led it with
success.
Home address, John O. Hawkins, father, Kinston, N. C. (G. O. 81, W. D.,
1919.)
*BURNWELL C. JACKSON, private, Company F, 16th Infantry. For ex-traordinary
heroism in action near Soissons, France, July 19, 1918. He, alone,
captured a machine gun, killed two of the crew, and took the remaining three
prisoners. Later in the same day he was killed while making a similar
attempt.
Home address, Jesse L. Jackson, brother, R. F. D. No. 4, Kinston, N. C.
(G. O. 15, W. D„ 1919.)
MACON COUNTY:
WALTER EUGENE FURR, private, S2d Company, 6th Regiment, United
States Marine Corps. For extraordinary heroism in action near Vierzy,
France, July 19, 1918. Unaided Private Furr crept forward in advance of his
line, searched an underground tunnel, captured five Germans, and brought
them back through heavy machine-gun and shell fire.
Residence at enlistment: Franklin, N. C. (G. O. 126, W. D. Nov. 11, 1919,
page 533.)
THOMAS M. MOSS, private, Company I, 324th Infantry. For extraordinary
heroism in action in Bois de Manheaulles, France, November 9, 1918. With
utter disregard for personal safety, he went forward under intense machine-gun
fire to rescue an officer who had been mortally wounded.
Home address, William W. Moss, U. S. Postoffice, Gneiss, N. C. (G. O. 32,
W. D., 1919.)
MADISON COUNTY:
JOSEPH L. BRADLEY (Army serial No. 40617), private, first-class, Com-pany
L, 9th Infantry. For extraordinary heroism in action near Medeah
Ferme, France, October 8, 1918. Without regard for his own safety, Private
Bradley worked unceasingly as a stretcher-bearer, caring for the wounded of
other companies, as well as those of his own, and inspiring others to greater
efforts by his example of courage and endurance.
Home address, Henry L. Bradley, father, R. F. D. No. 2, Marshall, N. C.
(G. O. 78, W. D„ 1919.)
WILLIAM H. SPRINGS (Army serial No. 42618), sergeant, Company E,
16th Infantry, 1st Division. For extraordinary heroism in action south of
Soissons, France, July 18, 1918. After his platoon commander had been
wounded, Sergeant Springs took command, reorganized, and led the platoon
forward through heavy fire to all its objectives, in which attack he was
severely wounded. He also rendered gallant service before Montdidier and
St. Mihiel, during both of which operations he was wounded.
Residence at enlistment: Route No. 3, Marshall, N. C. (G. O. 35, W. D.
June 15, 1920.)
*Deceased.
50
MARTIN COUNTY:
HUGH B. MARTIN (Army serial No. 1317775), corporal, Machine-gun
Company, 119th Infantry. For extraordinary heroism in action near Busigny,
France, October 10, 1918. When a battalion of infantry was held up by
heavy machine-gun fire, he rushed his section forward to a position 300 yards
in advance of our front lines, engaged and silenced the enemy, and allowed a
renewal of the advance. He displayed marked personal bravery under terrific
enemy fire.
Home address, Jebtha B. Martin, brother, Williamston, N. C. (G. O. 81,
W. D., 1919.)
CHARLES R. MOBLEY, sergeant, Company F, 119th Infantry. For ex-traordinary
heroism in action near Ypres, Belgium, August 25, 1918. At
imminent peril to his own life, Sergeant Mobley and two companions extin-guished
a fire in an ammunition dump caused by a bursting shell, thereby
preventing the explosion of the dump and saving the lives of a large number
of men who were in the vicinity.
Home address, Mrs. Mary J. Mobley, mother, Williamston, N. C. (G. O. 32.
W. D., 1919.)
MECKLENBURG COUNTY:
THOMAS L. ALEXANDER, first lieutenant, 327th Infantry. For extraordi-nary
heroism in action near Chatel-Chehery, France, October 8, 1918. Leading
the first attack wave, he was painfully wounded in the mouth. He continued
on through the heavy fire for a distance of 10,000 yards until his objective
was reached. Organizing his position and consolidating his men, he remained
in command, though very weak from exhaustion and loss of blood, refusing
treatment until relieved.
Home address, F. R. Alexander, brother, Piedmont Building, Charlotte,
N. C. (G. O. 37, W. D., 1919.)
JOHN W. BERRYHILL, private, first-class, Company D, 120th Infantry.
For extraordinary heroism in action near Bellicourt, France, September 29,
1918. With eight other soldiers, comprising the company headquarters detach-ment,
he assisted his company commander in cleaning out enemy dugouts along
a canal and capturing 242 prisoners.
Home address, Mrs. John W. Berryhill, wife, Charlotte, N. C. (G. O. 37,
W. D., 1919.)
CARLISLE C. COTHRAN (Army serial No. 545136), sergeant Medical De-tachment,
30th Infantry, 3rd Division. For extraordinary heroism in action
near Crezancy, France, July 15, 1918. Sergeant Cothran, though severely
injured in one foot early in the morning, persevered in the work of rendering
first aid and assistance to the wounded exposed to heavy shell fire, until it
became necessary for him to be evacuated later in the afternoon.
Residence at enlistment: Huntersville, N. C. (G. O. 16, W. D. March 20.
1920.)
WILLIAM CURLEE, corporal, Company F, 9th Infantry. For extraordi-nary
heroism in action near Medeah Farm, France, October 3, 1918. Corporal
Curlee, together with four men, charged a machine-gun nest containing three
machine guns and captured the 3 guns and 20 prisoners.
Home address, Miss Jodie Curlee, sister, Charlotte, N. C. (G. O. 21, W. D.,
1919.)
51
GUY R. HINSON, sergeant, first class, Company F, 105th Engineers. For
extraordinary heroism in action August 27, 1918. He was in charge of a
platoon, delivering a highly concentrated gas-cloud attack against the enemy,
when the cloud unexpectedly flared back. After leading his men to a place
of safety, this soldier went back into the cloud four times at imminent peril
to his own life, collecting and rescuing others who had been overcome. Con-ducting
his platoon through heavy machine-gun fire, he put them in charge of
another sergeant with instructions to resume their mission, while he again
returned to search for gassed men, and found all but two. His excellent
leadership and unusual courage prevented many casualties, and at the same
time effected the completion of an important mission.
Home address, Mrs. Dela Hinson, 610 East 7th Street, Charlotte, N. C.
(G. O. 145, W. D., 1918.)
LOUIS E. JOHNSTON, corporal, Machine Gun Company, 120th Infantry.
For extraordinary heroism in action near Mazinghein, France, October 18-19,
1918. When his platoon became separated from the battalion to which it was
attached, Corporal Johnston proceeded under heavy fire along a road with
which he was unfamiliar and established liaison with his battalion.
Home address, J. A. Johnston, father, Davidson, N. C. (G. O. 35, W. D.,
1919.)
BENJAMIN A. POORE, brigadier general, 7th Infantry Brigade. For
repeated acts of extraordinary heroism at Bois de Septsarges, France, Septem-ber
27, and at Bois du Fays, France, October 11, 1918. At Bois de Septsarger,
on September 27, General Poore personally reformed his disorganized troops,
who were falling back through lack of command, and because of severe casual-ties.
Under heavy fire, he led them to the lines, and presented an unbroken
front to the enemy. Again on October 11, in the region of Bois de Fays, he
gathered together troops who were taking refuge from hostile fire and turned
them over to the support commander.
Home address, Mrs. B. A. Poore, 126 East Morehead St., Charlotte, N. C.
(G. O. 44, W. D., 1919.)
*DANIEL C. POPLIN, private, Company H, 4th Infantry. For extraordi-nary
heroism in action near Roncheres, France, July 29, 1918. He repeatedly
carried messages between his own and another company across an open field
swept by heavy machine-gun and sniper fire and was killed while on one of
these missions.
Home address, Mrs. Mary Poplin, 920 North Caldwell St., Charlotte, N. C.
(G. O. 32, W. D., 1919.)
*JOHN O. RANSON, first lieutenant, 371st Infantry. For extraordinary
heroism in action near Ardeuil, France, September 29, 1918. When his com-pany
was held up by an enemy machine-gun nest, Lieutenant Ranson volun-teered
and led his platoon in an attack on the position, and while attempting
to carry out his mission was killed.
Home address, Mrs. John O. Ranson, wife, Charlotte, N. C. (G. O. 20,
W. D., 1919.)
JOHN F. WILLIAMS, Jr., first lieutenant, 120th Infantry. For extraordi-nary
heroism in action near Ypres, Belgium, August 2, 1918. He volunteered
to destroy an enemy pillbox which had caused many casualties in his battalion.
With much skill and daring he led a daylight patrol, under heavy shell and
*Deceased.
52
machine-gun fire, rushed the pillbox, killed or wounded the occupants, and
accomplished his mission.
Home address, John F. Williams, Sr., father, 201 East Liberty Street, Char-lotte,
N. C. (G. O. 143, W. D., 1919.)
NEW HANOVER COUNTY:
BEN G. DAVIS, private, Company C, 115th Machine Gun Battalion. For
extraordinary heroism in action near Ypres, Belgium, August 23, 1918. When
several members of his platoon were severely wounded by shell fire, Private
Davis, though himself severely wounded, went through the bombardment to a
dugout and procured assistance for his comrades, guiding a rescuing party to
their assistance.
Home address, Mrs. Marie Davis, mother, 512 Nunn Street, Wilmington,
N. C. (G. O. 35, W. D., 1919.)
*JAMES C. LODER, second lieutenant, 26th Infantry. On July 18, 1918, he
gallantly inspired his platoon to three vigorous and successful advances
against machine-gun fire near Soissons, France, in the last of which he was
killed.
Home address, Mrs. James C. Loder, P. O. Box 422, Wilmington, N. C.
(G. O. 132, W. D., 1918.)
*DAVID WORTH LORING, first lieutenant, 115th Machine Gun Battalion.
For extraordinary heroism in action near Ypres, Belgium, August 23, 1918.
When his gun positions were rendered untenable by shell fire and his men
ordered to seek shelter in dugouts, Lieutenant Loring left a place of safety
for the purpose of seeing that all of his men were under cover and was
mortally wounded by a shell, dying on his way to the hospital.
Home address, Mrs. Viola Shaw Loring, wife, 117 South 17th Street, Wil-mington,
N. C. (G. O. 32, W. D., 1919.)
*JOSEPH J. LOUGHLIN, captain, 322d Infantry. For extraordinary hero-ism
in action near Moranville, France, November 9, 1918. At the sacrifice of
his own life, he went forward through heavy machine-gun fire to locate a nest
of machine guns which was holding up the advance of the regiment. He
located the machine guns so that 1-pounders could silence them, but was
killed by the enemy machine-gun fire.
Home address, Mrs. Eleanor K. Loughlin, wife, 513 South Front St., Wil-mington,
N. C. (G. O. 32, W. D., 1919.)
HARMON C. RORISON, first lieutenant, Aviation Section, 22d Aero Squad-ron,
Air Service. For extraordinary heroism in action near Beaumont, France.
November 3, 1918. While on a bombing mission with 5 other pilots, his patrol
was attacked by 18 enemy planes (type Fokker). Three of his comrades were
immediately shot down, but he continued in the fight for 30 minutes, and
destroyed two Fokkers which were attacking the other two members of his
patrol. With his plane badly damaged and himself wounded, he succeeded
in shooting down another Fokker just before one of his guns was put out of
action. By skillful maneuvering he shook off the rest of the Fokkers and
reached his lines, 15 miles away, in safety.
Home address, Charles C. Chadbourn, uncle, Wilmington, N. C. (G. O. 46,
W. D., 1919.)
SILAS V. SNEEDEN, private, Company C, 115th Machine Gun Battalion.
For extraordinary heroism in action near Ypres, Belgium, August 23, 1918.
Upon learning that his platoon commander and several comrades had been
Deceased.
53
wounded by heavy shell fire, he voluntarily left his dugout and went to their
assistance, helping to carry them 500 yards to the dressing station across an
open field heavily bombarded with gas and high-explosive shells.
Home address, Thomas V. Sneeden, father, Sea Gate, N. C. (G. O. 35,
W. D., 1919.)
SAMUEL F. YOPP, Jr., sergeant, Medical Corps, 119th Infantry. For ex-traordinary
heroism in action near Hargicourt, France, September 28, 1918.
While directing the evacuation of the wounded he was severely gassed, but
refused to be evacuated and continued in charge of the dressing station to
which he had been assigned. He displayed marked fortitude and personal
bravery, working constantly to help the wounded.
Home address, Mrs. Samuel F. Yopp, Sr., mother, 202 South Ninth Street,
Wilmington, N. C. (G. O. 81, W. D., 1919.)
NORTHAMPTON COUNTY:
CHARLES W. PARKER, second lieutenant, Company L, 371st Infantry.
For extraordinary heroism in action near Ardeuil, France, September 29-
October 1, 1918. Severely wounded in the foot September 29, Lieutenant
Parker remained on duty and ably commanded his platoon until October 1,
1918.
Home address, Mrs. Jamie J. Parker, Woodland, N. C. (G. O. 21, W. D.,
1919.)
ORANGE COUNTY:
JOSEPH H. JOHNSTON, first lieutenant, 322d Infantry. For extraordi-nary
heroism in action at Beulay, France, October 15, 1918. Lieutenant John-ston
led a daylight patrol behind the German front line for the purpose of
securing information as to the reported retreat of the enemy. Discovering
an enemy machine gun, he led his men in an attempt to capture it, but when
they were about 25 yards away the gun opened fire and this officer was
mortally wounded. Upon being pulled into a trench by members of the
patrol, he manifested no anxiety concerning himself, but urged his men to
continue their mission.
Home address, Mrs. C. S. Johnston, mother, Chapel Hill, N. C. (G. O. 74,
W. D., 1919.)
ISAAC M. NEWTON (Army serial number 1316085), corporal, Company H,
119th Infantry. For extraordinary heroism in action near Bellicourt, France,
September 29, 1918. With another soldier he attacked and destroyed two
enemy machine-gun posts 200 yards in advance of our lines. While the other
soldier stood guard at the entrance of a dugout, he entered it and brought
out 75 German soldiers and 3 officers, who were taken back to our lines as
prisoners.
Home address, Frederick Newton, father, Carr, N. C. (G. O. 81, W. D.,
1919.)
ONSLOW COUNTY:
WILLIAM E. PARKER (Army serial number 2993207), private, Company E,
523d Infantry. For extraordinary heroism in action at Bois de Manheulles,
France, November 9-11, 1918. Private Parker gave proof of unhesitating devo-tion
to duty and disregard for personal safety by continually volunteering and
carrying messages to various units, crossing zones swept by machine-gun and
heavy artillery fire.
Next of kin, J. O. Parker, father, Verona, N. C. (G. O. 81, W. D., 1919.)
•Deceased.
54
PAMLICO COUNTY:
EMERY W. MILLS, second lieutenant, 311th Infantry. For extraordinary
heroism in action near Grand Pre, France, October 25, 1918. Lieutenant Mills
asked permission to lead a platoon against strong enemy machine-gun nests
which were blocking the advance of the battalion. He not only led his platoon
in a daring and extraordinarily successful attack, but personally advanced
ahead of his platoon and captured two machine guns. During the consolida-tion
of the line he fearlessly walked up and down the line under intense
machine-gun and artillery fire, establishing strong points and encouraging;
his men.
Home address, William P.