Hanon Fields Combs

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Hanon Fields Combs, Captain, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action in France against the enemy during the months of July, August, and October, 1918. On July 22, 1918, while at the head of his company, which was advancing in the direction of Le Charmel, Department of Aisne, France, against the enemy, Captain Combs noticed that after passing a certain spot on the road his company was subject to the machine-gun fire of a sniper. Organizing a small party he led them in capturing the machine gun and killing the sniper. On August 7, 1918, at the Vesle River, he personally silenced a machine-gun sniper that had been keeping up a harassing fire on his command. This was done in the face of machine-gun fire. On October 9, 1918, near Cierges, Department of Meuse, Captain combs was wounded in action by shrapnel in the back. He refused to go back to the first-aid station. October 22, 1918, he was killed by a sniper while establishing a new post command.