William E. Graddy
Home Town: Couch, MO
Distinguished Service Cross
World War I
U.S. Army
General Orders No. 59, W.D., 1919
The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to William E. Graddy, Private, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near Baulny, France, September 29,1918. As a company runner Private Graddy was sent to the rear with an important message, having to pass through the enemy counter-barrage. Though severely wounded soon after starting on the mission, he struggled on and delivered the message as he fell, fainting from loss of blood.