Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1919-02-11
HIGHEST u. S. WAR
CROSS GIVEN YANKS
Congressional Medal of Honor
Conferred for Calamity.
FOR DEEDS ABOVE DUTY
Medal Carries Gratuities and Other
PrNileges-AlI Awards Were Up
on the Recommendation of
General Pershing.

Washington, Feb. 5.-Award of con-
gressional medals of honor, the high
est American military decoration, TO
two officers and 20 enlisted men of
the army in France, was announced
by the var department.
Only three of the medals had been
awarded previously for service in the
great war.
All of the awards were upon recon-
mendation by General Pershing. By
en- only for conspicuous gallantry and
intrepidity above and beyond the call
of duty in action"
Many distinguished service crosses
for gallantry in action and distinguish
ed service medals, given for conspicu-
Gus service of any character in con-
DectiOn with the army, have been
awarded heretofore, but the wearers
of the medal of honor constitute a
special roll of honor. 1t carries with it
gratuities and certain privileges.
May Be Awarded in Field.
The cross and distinguished service
medal can be awarded by any indie
pendent commander in the field. The
medal of honor is given by the secre-
tary of war on the recommendation of
the military commanders, each recon-
mendation being reviewed by a board
of officers to make certain that an I'M
I-SI1aI act of horoiSo ic oODnnlonoratad
Some of the decorations were award
ed posthumously, won by men who lost
their lives in heroic acts. The COM
plete list of the 81 follows:
Capt. Marcellus III. Chiles (de-
ceased), Denver, 356th infantry, who
led the battalion he commanded for
ward against machine gun cross-fire,
wading waist deep across q stream to
reach the enemy and crawling on his
hands to follow. He died of his
wounds.
Privates Jesse N. Funk, Calhan,
Colo, and Charles D. Farger, 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.
Rescues Two Under Fire.
Sergt. Reidar Walker, no address,
company A, 105th machine gun bat
TALON, for rescuing two wounded men
from a burning British tank under ar
tillery and machine gun fire.
Sergts. Alan Louis Eggers, Summit,
n. j., 10th infantry, and John Grid
land Latham, nearest of kin residing
at Westmoreland, England, machine
gun company, 10th infantry, and Cor
poral Thomas E. O'Shea, Summit, N.
j., for rescuing an officer and two men
from a damaged American tank and
by means of the machine gun from the
tank standing off the enemy all day
from a shell hole within the enemy
lines. Corporal O'Shea died of wounds.
Sergt. james 1. Mestrovitch, Fresno,
Cal, Company G, 111th infantry, for
rescuing his wounded company COM
mander 80 yards in front of the line.
He has died since.
Killed Four Huns With Pistol.
Private Frank Gaffney, Lockport, N.
Y, Company G, 108th infantry, for GO
ing forward alone with an automatic
rifle when all other members of his
squad had been killed, attacking and
capturing an enemy machine gun, kill
ing the crew, bombing several dugouts
and killing fOur of the enemy with mis-
toll fire. When re-enforcements came
up so prisoners were captured.
Sergt. Harold l. Johnson, Denver,
and Private David B. Barkeley, San
Antonio, Tex, Company A, 356th infan-
fantry, for swimming the river Meuse
to obtain information as to the enemy's
position on the opposite side.