Arthur S . Champeny Brigadier General Arthur Seymour Champeny ( August 13 , 1893 - April 11 , 1979 ) is the only American to earn the Distinguished Service Cross in three different wars . In addition to his three Distinguished Service Crosses , he was awarded the Silver Star , two Legions of Merit , five Purple Hearts , two French Croix de Guerre , the French Legion of Honor , and the Italian Bronze Medal of Military Valor . Early life . A native of Briggsville , Wisconsin , Champeny was a graduate of Washburn College in Topeka , Kansas . While at Washburn , he was a member of the Kansas Beta Chapter of Phi Delta Theta and inducted into the school ’ s exclusive Sagamore Society . World War I . Champeny earned his first Distinguished Service Cross in September 1918 for bravery near St . - Mihiel in the northeast of France , while serving as 1st Lieutenant , 356th Infantry Regiment , 89th Infantry Division . His Distinguished Service Cross citation reads : " The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Arthur S . Champeny , Captain , U . S . Army , for extraordinary heroism in action near St . Mihiel , France , September 12 , 1918 . Assisting the battalion commander , who had been severely wounded in the early fighting , Captain Champeny maintained the liaison personnel , making many journeys himself through heavy shelling . When the battalion commander had been evacuated he assumed command and moved the battalion to its new position . ( General Orders No . 37 , W . D . , 1919 ) " World War II . Champeny was awarded his second Distinguished Service Cross ( or more accurately a first Oak Leaf Cluster to the award ) in connection with military operations near Infante Santa Maria in Italy , May 1944 . His second Distinguished Service Cross citation reads : " The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Distinguished Service Cross to Arthur S . Champeny ( 0 - 8264 ) , Colonel ( Infantry ) , U . S . Army , for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with the 351st Infantry Regiment , 88th Infantry Division , in action against enemy forces from 11 to 14 May 1944 . Colonel Champeny ' s outstanding leadership , personal bravery and zealous devotion to duty exemplify the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflect great credit upon himself , the 88th Infantry Division , and the United States Army . " Korea . Following the end of World War II , Lieutenant General John Hodge appointed Champeny the first Director of National Defense in Korea . Though he was still a colonel , he wore the rank of a brigadier general while serving in this position . Champeny was the author of the Bamboo Plan to create a police reserve or constabulary of 25 , 000 men . Champeny was responsible for organizing Korean Army and Navy and signed the commission documents for its first officers . He was also later the Seoul area commander . Later , Champeny was Deputy Military Governor and then Civil Administrator of Korea . Following the outbreak of combat , Champeny was named commander of the segregated 24th Infantry Regiment , 25th Division replacing Colonel Horton V . White . At the time of his appointment , Champeny was 57 years old making him more than two years older than the division commander . Champeny ’ s command of the Regiment was brief and controversial . The day after taking command , Champeny reportedly told members of the Regiment ’ s 3rd battalion that his experience during World War II showed that " coloreds did not make good combat soldiers " and had a " reputation for running " . Champeny later defended his comments as an attempt to stir the unit ’ s pride and the historical evidence is mixed as to its impact . Champeny ' s defense of his actions did not convince many of the Regiment ' s black troops . " I found Colonel Champeny biased , gutless and totally inefficient . " He was awarded his third Distinguished Service Cross and a fifth Purple Heart for military operations near Haman in Korea , serving as Commander of 24th Infantry Regiment , 25th Infantry Division . The citation reads : " The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting a Second Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Third Award of the Distinguished Service Cross to Arthur S . Champeny ( 0 - 8264 ) , Colonel ( Infantry ) , U . S . Army , for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving as Commanding Officer , 24th Infantry Regiment , 25th Infantry Division . Colonel Champeny distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against enemy aggressor forces near Haman , Korea , on 5 September 1950 . Colonel Champeny came under direct attack by a numerically superior enemy force which had broken through the Regimental Sector . Confusion developed throughout the area and in the burning village where the Regimental Command Post was located . Small enemy groups had infiltrated the village . Colonel Champeny calmly directed and supervised the withdrawal of his depleted Regiment and the Regimental Command Post . When the new Regimental Command Post had been established , Colonel Champeny returned to reorganize battered elements of the Regiment . He came under fire and was wounded twice . Although severely wounded , he gave instructions for organizing the new defensive positions and transmitted the plans to Division Headquarters . His military poise and battle courage inspired the regiment to withstand the assault . Headquarters , Eighth U . S . Army , Korea : General Orders No . 127 ( October 20 , 1950 ) " As a result of his injuries , Champeny was evacuated to Japan and replaced as regimental commander by Colonel John T . Corley . Bernice Champeny Cradler of Hartland , Wisconsin , Champeny ’ s sister , told the " Waukesha Daily Freeman " in 1953 that the general had been offered command of the 24th Infantry Division when its commander , Major General William F . Dean , was captured by North Korean forces on August 25 , 1950 . Champeny reportedly did not accept the post as he was still in Japan recovering from his wounds . In 1951 Champeny was promoted to brigadier general . One of Champeny ’ s Phi Delta Theta Fraternity brothers from Washburn , Howard S . Searle , was also a brigadier general during this time period . After 35 years on active duty , he retired in 1953 . He and his wife retired to Oxford , Kansas .