The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-02-04
Fl YANKS GIVEN
HIGHEST HONORS
AS WARS HEROES.
Two Officers and 19 Enlisted
Men Awarded Congressional
Medals for Brave Deeds Of
Exceptional Worth.

WASHINGTON. Feb. Award Of
congressional medals or uouoT, the high
est American military decoration, TO
two officers and 10 enlisted men Of the
army in France was announced today
by the war department. only three OF
the medals had been awarded prcvi-
ously for service In the great war
All Of the awards are upon reeom-
mendation by Gen. Pershing. By act
Of congress the medal can be given
only for conspicuous sallantry and in
trepidity above, and beyond the call q
duty IN action"
Many distinguished service crosses
for gallantry In action and distinguished
service medals given for conspicuous
service Of any character In connection
with the army have been awarded here
tofore, but the weRrers of the medal
Of honor constitute u speciai roll OF
honor II carries with II gratuities and
certain privileges.
The cross and distinguished services
medal can be awarded by any inde-
pendent commander in the field. The
medal OF honor Is given by the secre-
tary OF war on the recommendation OF
the military commander. such recoun-
mendatlon being reviewed by board
OF Officers to make certain that an un-
usual act OF herolsm Is commemorated.
Some Heroes Dead.
Some Of the decorations were award
cd poSthumously, won by men who lost
their lives In heroic acts,
The complete list Of the II follows:
Private Calvin John Ward, Norris
town, Tenn, Company D, 1l7th In
fantry (S0th divisionl, who, captured a
machine gun nest, killing three ana
capturing seven OF the crew and their
guns,
Capt, Marcellus II. Chiles (deceasedl.
Denver, Col. who led the battalion he
commanded forward against a machine
gun crossfire, wading waist deep across
stream to reach the enemy and crAwla
ing on his hands to follow. He died OF
his wound.
prlvntes Jesse n. Funk, Calhan, Col,
aud Charles n Barger, Stotts City,
Mo, for rescuing wounded 500 yards In
front OF the American me, making two
TRIPS as observation-disclosures under ma
chine gun fire,
Sergt Reldar Walker, no address.
Company A, lo5th machine gun bat
TALON t27th division. New York;, for
| Iesouing two wounded men from a
burning British tank under artillery
and machine gun fire.,
sergas. Alan Louis Eggers, summit.
| n. j.. and John Cridland Latham, near
| est OF kin residing at Westmoreland.
| England, machine gun company, t0Tth
| Infantry (27th divisionl, and Corp
| Thomas ", OShea. Summit, N. j., for
a damaged American tank and by
means of the machine gun from The
tank standing off the enemy all dng
from shell hole within the enemy
lines Corp O'Shea died OF wounds.
Sergt James I. MestroTtch, Fresno,
Cal, for rescging his wounded COM
pany, commander 80 yards In front Of
the line lie has died since.
Private Frank Gaffney, lockport, N.
r., for going forward alone with an
automatic rifle when all other mem
bers OF his squad had been killed, at
tacking and capturing an enemy ma
chine gun, killing the crew. bombing
several dugouts and killing four OF the
enemy with pistol fire; when reinforce
ments came up 80 prisoners were cap
tured
Two Swim Meuse.
serRt, Harold !. Johnston, Denver.
and Private David b Barkeley, San
Antonio, Tex, Company A, S56th in
tantry Bsth diyisonl, for swimming
the river Meuse to y ain information
ls. a. e. ihe ensmy's y tion on the Op-
First Lieut.. Jar6 c, pozter. Rock
Hn, S. C., Company G. 1isth infantry
t30th dlvislon), who advanced with one
soldier, although painfully wounded. to
attack machine gun crew with hand
grenades when his two platoons Were
ueu up DN enemy tire.
v,iIs isIsrGt EE'chTond II. IL Hilton West
fantry. who attacked an enemy ma
chine gun with rifle and pistol when
his company was fianked and killed six
and captureYT of the enemy. Hltons
arm was bnd.. OF by shell.
Sergt. Carey Evans Foster Inman,
). c. Company f, llSth infantry, wh 4
attacked machine gun nest with hAEtse
grenades and pistol unaided, kiNknR
several and capturing 1s
Coq John c, Nilapigue, CamdeW s.
G, Company NJ li8th infantry. Hwho
continued without aid on a sco%tinE
toon after his three comrades hadI been
Killed or wounded, He killed four Of
the enemy with hand grenades and
later rushed a machine gun nest and
killed four and captured six OF the
crew and two light machine guns, al
though severely wounded IN the arm.
Private Robert L. Blackwell (de-
ceased), Hundles, N, G., Company K.
llsth infantry (30th dlvision), who VOL
unteefed 10 carry message when hia
platoon was almost surrounded BY the
enemy and was killed in the attempt.
:. Corp James D. Heriot (deceased),
Providence, $. G., Company ], l1sth In.
fantry, who with four comrades at
tackled an enemy machine gun nest.
and when his squad was dispersed
charged alone with fixed bayonet for
30 yards and forced the enemy to sur
render, receiving several wounds. Later
ON the same day he charged another
machine gun nest and was killed,
Sergt Philip C, Kat7. San Francisco.
Company G., Ss3d infantry, who re-.
turned when his company had retired
200 yards, to rescue wounded COM
rade,
Private Archie A. Peck. Hornell N
Y, who rescued two comrades wounded
on patrol duty. twice crossing through
terrific machine gun fire to reach them.
Setst. Wilbur Il. Colyer (deceased1.
South Ozone, l., l., Company A. First
engineers, who volunteered with two
other soldiers to locate machine g,n
nests, captured a German gun ana
turned II on other nests, all OF which
were silenced, He was killed In action