Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-10-25
DISTINGUISHED SERVICE MEDAL
AWARDED TO MEMBERS OF
OLD THIRD REGIMENT.
CEREMONY DESCRIBED
BY CAPTAIN THOMAS.
General Pershins confers Honors in
Person and Commends Men For
Their Gallantry-Offieers and Pri.
Yates Alike Win Decorations-Miii-
tary Ceremony at Presentation.

Des Moines. Oct. 25.-An impressive
ceremony, during which Gen. ]. j.
Pershing awarded d. s C.'s to thirty
five overseas soldiers, is described in
a letter received by friends of Capt.
James Thomas. now in France.
Seven of the men to receive the re-
wards for, valor were from Company
NJ 16Sth infantry and four Of these
were from Red Oak. These four were
Major Ross, Captain Christopher Ser
geant Wilson and Sergeant Lepley
Lieutenant Van Hoff, one of Company
Ms officers who died of wounds in a
hospital, also was awarded the cross.
and Captain Casey received citation,
but due to the fact that he had not
turned in the first cross awarded him,
il had not been replaced by the new
design, so his presentation was de-
layed.
Battalion Parades.
Preceding the presentation of the
crosses a battalion of the 16Sth and
Sixty eighth paraded in honor of those
about to receive the medals.
The honored soldiers stood in ad-
vance of the ranks and the official
party. consisting of General PershinS
General Menohcr, Major Powers, Cap
tain Thomas and several officers from
general headquarters stood near The
crosses were pinned on by General
PershinS, Major Powers read the eta
ton and Captain Thomas recorded the
names of the men receiving the crosses.
1i,,,o iySr ~
general shook the hand of each man
and commended him for his gallantry.
Following the ceremony he gave
short talk to all the soldiers. The
parade then reformed and the battalion
was reviewed.
General Macarthur, the first gen.
eral Of the A. E. F. TO be decorated,
received his cross at this ceremony.
Major Lloyd D. Ross. 16Sth infantry
Captain (now MAJOR Lloyd D. Ross
commanding Company NJ. 16Sth infan-
try, commanded his company in ralo
on enemy trenches with French troops
on March 5, 1918. The gallant manner
in which he commanded his men aided
greatly in making the raid success.
Capt. Charles J. Casey, 16Sth infan-
| try-Capt. Charles J. Casey, command
ing Company F, 16Sth infantry. COM
manded his company in raid on
enemy troops on March Q, 1918. The
gallant manner in which he com
| manded his men aided greatly in max
| ing the raid a success.
| First Lieut.. (now captain) John {.
| Christopher, 16sth infantry-He LED
his platoon against the Prussian Guards
on Hill No. 212 near Sersy, France. on
July %. 1918. SO courageous was he
and so skillful in directing the attack
| that thirteen of the cnemy's best
troops were captured at their guns and
six machine guns were taken and
turned on the foe
First. Lieut. Bernard Van Hot
16Sth infantry-F'or extra ordinary
! ism in action northeast of Chateau
Thierry. France. July %, 1918. He d.
rected his platoon so skillfully In the
attack near Sergy. and conducted him.
| self with such bravery and fearless
| ness that his men captured six guns
| from the Prussian Guards and toos
| twenty-five prisoners. The guns were
then used with effect in driving the
enemy from their positions.
Sergt. Earle NJ. Wilson, Co. NJ. 16Sth
infantry-For extraordinary heroism
in action near Sergy, France. July 2S
| 1918. Showing great personal bravery
| and contempt of danger at all times
during the attack on Hill No. 212, he
| unanswered his platoon SO skillfully as
to capture machine gun position WITH
! four of its occupants after which ne
operated the two enemy guns thus
taken against the retreating Germans
Next of kin: Mrs. Earle w. Wilson
Jefferson, Iowa
Sergt. Claude ". Hart, Co. NJ, 16Stf
i1fantry-For extraordinary heroisn
action near Sergy, France. July 70
1918. He coolly, and with utter dis
regard Of danger, led his platoon
against enemy machine gun emplace'
ments. Four Of thesfoe were captured
together with their two machine guns
which he turned and operated on the
retreating Germans until he was
severely wounded.
Next OF kin: R B. Hart, Cherokee
Iowa
Sergt James B. Lepley Co. M. 16Stt
acknowledgement James B. Lepley
Company M, 16Sth infantry, near Sou.
ain, to the northeast OF Chalons sur
Marine, France, on the night of July
14-15, 1918, left his trench and re-
turned to a woods thru a smotherine
fire of gas, high explosive and shrap-
mel to search for two men from his
platoon who were missing. He found
them lost in the woods and guided
them back to the platoon. On July 20
1918 near Sergy. France, he led his
platoon forward in the face Of heavy
machine gun fire and, captured six
machine guns and thirteen prisoners
from the Prussian Guards.
Next of kin: Mrs. Hazel Fenton
Red Oak, Iowa
Sergeant George r. Bousted, 90. M
16Sth acknowledgements George Bou-
sted distinguished himself northeast Of
80 q