William H. Hammond

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to William H. Hammond, First Lieutenant, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near Montfaucon, France, September 26 – 27, 1918. First Lieutenant Hammond fearlessly led his platoon against a German counterattack and succeeded in breaking it up. Sighting a German patrol taking American prisoners to the rear, he led a combat patrol which routed the Germans and rescued the captured Americans. In the advance in which he took part the next day, he was severely wounded in the chest, but refusing first-aid treatment, continued to urge his men forward, although unable himself to go.