Alfred D. Barksdale

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Alfred D. Barksdale, Captain, U.S. Army, for repeated acts of extraordinary heroism in action near Samogneux, France, October 8, near Molleville, France, October 12, and in the Bois-de-Grand Montague, France, October 15, 1918. Commanding a support company during the attack of October 8, Captain Barksdale discovered that his battalion had advanced ahead of the unit on the right flank, and was suffering heavy losses from machine-gun fire. Without orders he attacked and captured the guns, taking many prisoners. On October 12, he worked for over an hour exposed to a terrific bombardment, binding the wounds of his men. On October 15 he advanced alone into a thick wood and with the aid of his pistol put out of action a destructive machine gun, which was pouring such a deadly fire that his men could not raise their heads.