Leonard Cox

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Leonard Cox, Second Lieutenant, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action on the Vesle River near Bazoches, France, September 2, 1918. Second Lieutenant Cox left St. Thibaut in broad daylight with another officer and a patrol of 10 men to reconnoiter the enemy’s positions across the Vesle River. The patrol divided and Lieutenant Cox conducted his half to the chateau in Bazoches, a recognized German post. He entered the yard of the chateau, met parties of the enemy personally, killed two, and wounded another who were firing on members of his patrol; continued his observations, though fired upon by machine guns, and with great skill withdrew his patrol under fire without loss, having gained valuable information.