The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1922-12-20
CAPT. w. II. EICHEY
AWARDED ID. s. C..

! tCONcted MetkaI Presented to Former
Commander Of Local National Guard
Company for Distinguished Services
in World War.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn, Dec. 10. 1922
Captain William II. Richey, Jr., Infan-
try. United States Army, was dccorat-
ed with the Distinguished Service
Cross on Shield Watkins Field at the
University Of Tennessee at $3.50 P. M.
today. The presentation took place
IN the presence Of the r. o. Il. G. bat
talions of the University Of Tennessee
and the Knoxville High Schools. The
ceremony connected with this decora-
! ton is one that the public seldom has
hero is killed i'll the act for which
the award is made. The Distinguished
Service Cross is awarded to persons
who, while serving in any capacity
with the Army Of the United States,
distinguishes themselves by extra or
dinary heroism in connection with
military operations against an armed
enemy
The act for which Captain Richcy
has been awarded this decoration is
FOR extraordinary hcroism in action
near Ardenil, France, September 90
30, 1918. Although badly gasscd dur
ing the night Of Ccptember 2S, he
nevertheless remained in command Of
his company and with utter disregard
OF personal danger, twice led it in the
attack on successive days and was not
evacuated until completely exhausted
on September 80, 1918. Captain
Richcy, at the time named, was in
command of Company 81" 371st lnfan-
try, 93rd Division; the action at this
point was SO severe that all five Of
ilccrs Of this company were wounded
and all have since been awarded the
Distinguished Service Cross.
Captain Richey Is at present on duty
with the Military Department at the
University of Tennessee. He is a mem
Der Of prominent South Carolina
family,,' IS the son OF MT and Mrs. W!l
r. Richey, Sr., and has enjoyed a sue
ccssful civil as well as "a military life.
He graduated from the Citadel, thc
South Carolina Military Academy, in
1905, he then entered the practice of
law with his father at Laurens. He
was active in National Guard affairs
and was the moving spirit in the or
ganization Of company of the First
IS. c.. Infantry at Laurens, OF which
he served as 1st Lieutenant and later
Captain. Our declaration of war with
Germany found him a member Of the
state legislature. chairman Of the
military committee. He resigned
from this Office in order to enter the
first officers training camp at Fort
Oglethorpe, from which he was grad
uated as a Captain and was assigned
to the 371st Infantry with which regi-
ment he served in France. He was en-
gagged in the actions in the Avocourt
sub-sector, the Verdun sector the
lMeuse~Argonne offensive, and the
Vosgc Mountains. After hostilities
ended, he resigned and returned home
to practice law. He was elected mayor
of Laurcns in February, 1920 and lat
er the same year was reappointed to
the regular army as a Captain Of IN
fantry and assigned to the Goth In
fantry at Camp Jackson, S. C. He now
resides ut 521 West Cumberland Ave,
with Mrs. Richey. formerly Miss nellie
EuGcnia Bolt, Of Laurens, and his
daughter Sarah.
The presentation was made by
Colonel William r. Sample, Infantry,
Chief Of staff of the S1st Division as
the representative of the Corps Area
Commander, A cordial invitation was
extended by Colonel Sample, especial
ly to the American Legion, former
members OF the 93rd Division and the
public to be present to pay respect
|to+one of our heroes who still lives,
and to witness one Of the most i'm
lpressive ceremonies OF military life.
FATAL ACCIDENT SATURDAY