The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-02-04
GIVE HIGHEST HONORS
Congressional Medal Awarded TO 10
Men and Two Omcers.


Washington, Feb. Award of
congressional medals OF honor. the
highest American military decoration,
to two officers and nineteen enlist
ed men of the army in France. was
announced today by the war depart,
ment. Only three of the medals had
been awarded previously for service
| in the great war.
All of the awards were upon rec
| ommendation by General Pershing
given only for conspicuous gallantry
and intrepidity above and beyond the
| call Of duty in action"
The medal of honor carries with 1t
gratuities and certain privileges 1t is
given by the secretary OF war on rec
ommendation of the military COM
manders, each recommendation being
reviewed by a board OF officers.
Some of the decorations were won
| by men who lost their lives in heroic
acts. The complete list of the thirty
one follows:
| Captain Marcellus H. Chiles. (de-
ceased) Denver, Colo. 356th infantry,
| who led the battalion he commanded
forward against machine gun cross
| fire, wading waist deep across stream
! to reach the enemy and crawling on
his hands to follow. He died of his
| wounds.
| Privates Jesse n. Funk. Ca1han,
Colo, and Charles d. Barser. Stotts
| City, MO, company l. 354th infantry
for rescuing wounded 500 yards in
front of the American line, making
two trips as stretcher bearers under
machine gun fire.
105th machine gun battalion, for res
cuing two wounded men from a burn
ing British tank under artillery and
machine gun fire.
and Pvt. David b. Barkeiey, San
Antonio, Tex, Company A, s56th in
fantry, for swimming the river Mouse
to obtain information as to the
ene7ny's position on the opposite side.
Sergts. Alan Louis Eggers, Summit.
N. j.. 10th infantry, and John Grid
land Latham, nearest of kin. residing
at Westmoreland. England, 10th In
fantry, and Corp. Thomas e. O'Shea
Summit, N. J., for rescuing an officer
and two men from a damaged Ameri-
! can tank and by means of the machine
gun from the tank. standing off the
enemy all day from shell hole within
the enemy lines. Corp. O'Shea died OF
wounds.
Sergt. James I. Mestrovitch, Fresno
Cal, 111th infantry. for rescuing his
/ wounded company commander thirty
!, yards in front OF the line. He has
died since.
Pvt. Frank Gaffney, Lockport, N. Y.
, alone with an automatic rifle when al
other members of his squad had beer
killed, ttacking and capturing al
enemy machine gun, killing the crew
bombing several dusouts and KILLING
i, four of the enemy with pistol fire
When reinforcements came up eight.
prisoners were captured.
First Lieut.. James c. Dozier. Rocl
Hill, s. c., 11Sth infantry, who ad
vanced with one soldier altho painful.
wounded, to attack a machine gul
crew with hand grenades when hi
two platoons were held up by enem.
fire.
i He host His Arm.
Sergt. Richmond H. Hilton, West
, vile. s. c., 11Sth infantry, who at
: tackled an enemy machine gun will
I rifle and pistol when his company wa!
flanked, and killed six and captured
ten of the enemy. Hilton's arm wa
blown off by a shell. 49,
Sergt. Carey Evans Foster, Inman
{ S. c., 11Sth infantry, who attacked 1
machine gun nest with hand grenade
anG pistol, unaided, killing several ant
: capturing eighteen prisoners.
l Sergt. Philip c. KATE, San Francisco
/ 363rd infantry, who returned when hi
company had retired 200 yards t,
Y rescue wounded comrade.
Corp. John c. villapigue, Camden
: s. c.. 11sth infantry, who continued
Y without aid on scouting trip so
yards in advance of his platoon afte
/ his three comrades had been killed O
l wounded. He killed four of the enem,
with hand grenades and later rushe,
a machine gun nest and killed fou
r and captured six of the crew and tw,
4 light machine guns, altho severel
: wounded in the arm.
Back at 1t Again.
: Corp. James D. Heriot (deceased)
= Providence. S. c., 11Sth infantry, who
with four comrades attacked al
enemy machine gun nest and when hi
squad was dispersed charged alon
with fixed bayonet for thirty yard
D and forced the enemy to surrender
receiving several wounds. Later OF
the same day. he charged another ma
! chine gun nest and was killed
Pvt. Calvin John Ward. Morristowr
Tenn, Company D. 117th infantr,
who captured a machine gun nest, kill
: ing three and capturing seven of tn
crew and their guns
Pvt. Archie A. Pack HornelI N Y
307th infantry. who rescued two com
3 crossing thru terrific machine gun fir
to reach them.
Pvt. Robert l.. Blackwell ode
| ceased). Hundles. N. C., 10th infan
| try, who volunteered to carry a mes
y | sage when his platoon was almost sur
! rounded by the enemy and was kille
= | in the attempt
: Sefgt- Wilbur E. Colyer deceased
South Ozone, L. l., First engineer,
| who volunteered with two other sol
o diers to locate machine gun nests. can
!. tured German gun, turned it on otf
a er nests, all of which were silencet
He was killed in action later.
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