Distinguished Service Cross Recipients from Wisconsin during World War One (U-Z)
Distinguished Service Cross Recipients from Wisconsin during World War I (M-P)
There were at least 180 Wisconsin Soldiers who were decorated with the Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) during WWI, 33 of those were awarded posthumously. Two of those Soldiers were decorated with two DSCs during WWI, 1LT Ora R. McMurry and BG Douglas A. MacArthur. BG MacArthur would go on to receive a third DSC during WWII and was also bestowed with the Medal of Honor during WWII. One Wisconsin Soldier, 1LT Arthur S. Champeny, was decorated with the DSC during WWI, a second time during WWII, and a third time during the Korean War.
Read here of the deeds of these brave heroes and do not forget them!
The names which are preceded by an asterisk denote posthumous awards.
This table lists the recipients by date, they are listed alphabetically below.
West, Carroll B.
Sergeant, U.S. Army
Company B, 12th Machine-Gun Battalion, 4th Div., A.E.F.
Date of Action: September 30 & October 2, 1918
Citation:
The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Carroll B. West, Sergeant, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near the Bois-des-Ogons, France, September 30, 1918, and October 2, 1918. Sergeant West displayed exceptional courage and leadership in leading the section forward and maintaining fire on the enemy from an advanced position in the wood, successfully covering the withdrawal of the infantry to a more secure position. This gallant soldier was killed two days later while he was successfully directing his section in breaking up an enemy counter-attack.
General Orders 66, W.D., 1919
Born: at Lakemills, Wisconsin
Home Town: Milton Junction, Wisconsin
*White, Donald W.
Second Lieutenant (Infantry), U.S. Army
23d Infantry Reg., 2d Div., A.E.F.
Date of Action: November 1, 1918
Citation:
The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Donald W. White, Second Lieutenant (Infantry), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near Landres et St. Georges, France, November 1, 1918. When the advance of his battalion was hindered by a strong enemy machine-gun nest, Lieutenant White led his platoon forward in an attack on the hostile position and was killed at the head of his platoon just before the last machine-gun was put out of action.
General Orders No. 37, W.D., 1919
Born: at Antigo, Wisconsin
Home Town: Manitowoc, Wisconsin
Whitman, Guy
Private First Class, U.S. Army
Company F, 127th Infantry Reg., 32d Div., A.E.F.
Date of Action: October 4 – 20, 1918
Citation:
The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Guy Whitman, Private First Class, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near Gesnes, France, October 4 – 20, 1918. During this period, Private Whitman, although many runners had been shot down, repeatedly volunteered and carried messages through heavy enemy barrages, successfully accomplishing his work and thereby saving the lives of many of his comrades.
General Orders 87, W.D., 1919
Born: at Shawano, Wisconsin
Home Town: Shawano, Wisconsin
Williams, John J.
Second Lieutenant (Infantry), U.S. Army
165th Infantry Reg., 42d Div., A.E.F.
Date of Action: July 28, 1918
Citation:
The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to John J. Williams, Second Lieutenant (Infantry), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near Villers-sur-Fere, France, July 28, 1918. When all the other officers of his company had been killed or wounded, Second Lieutenant Williams promptly took command, led his men through artillery and machine-gun fire, rushed a machine-gun which was blocking his advance, personally killed four members of its crew, gained his objective and held it.
General Orders No. 99, W.D., 1918
Born: at Lapeer, Michigan
Home Town: Berlin, Wisconsin
Winton, David J.
Second Lieutenant (Armor), U.S. Army
Company C, 345th Tank Battalion, Tank Corps, A.E.F.
Date of Action: October 4, 1918
Citation:
The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to David J. Winton, Second Lieutenant (Armor), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near Exermont, France, October 4, 1918. Lieutenant Winton (then sergeant) ran his tank into the wood to reduce a machine-gun nest, but it was hit and set on fire. He and the driver were wounded as they left the tank, but advanced on the nest and were both wounded the second time. While attempting to reach his companion, who had been hit the third time, Lieutenant Winton was again wounded, but reached the driver. They then took cover and remained until darkness, when Lieutenant Winton made his way back to our lines, being hit three more times while returning.
General Orders No. 59, W.D., 1919
Born: at Warsaw, Wisconsin
Home Town: Minneapolis, Minnesota
Witte, Louis
Sergeant, U.S. Army
Company F, 127th Infantry Reg., 32d Div., A.E.F.
Date of Action: July 30, 1918
Citation:
The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Louis Witte, Sergeant, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near Roncheres, France, July 30, 1918. When all the other members of his automatic rifle squad had been killed or wounded Sergeant Witte (then a private) took the dead gunner’s automatic rifle and kept it in action against the enemy. Considerable enemy machine-gun fire was thereby drawn upon his and he was wounded, but he nevertheless continued to maintain an effective fire while the remainder of his company was withdrawing. He remained at his post firing until the entire company had withdrawn.
General Orders 66, W.D., 1919
Born: at Shawano County, Wisconsin
Home Town: Shepley, Wisconsin
Wollert, Edward J.
Corporal, U.S. Marine Corps
79th Company, 6th Reg. (Marines), 2d Div., A.E.F.
Date of Action: September 15, 1918
Citation:
The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Edward J. Wollert, Corporal, U.S. Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism while serving with the 79th Company, 6th Regiment (Marines), 2d Division, A.E.F. in action near Thiaucourt, France, September 15, 1918. At the risk of his life, Corporal Wollert went to the aid of a wounded officer who was a prisoner in the hands of six Germans. With his pistol he shot two of them, while the officer killed two others. He captured the two remaining Germans and forced them to carry the wounded officer back to our lines.
General Orders No. 37, W.D., 1919
Born: at Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Home Town: Milwaukee, Wisconsin