Peyton V. Deese

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Peyton V. Deese, First Lieutenant, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near Nesles, France, July 28, 1918. Although wounded, Lieutenant Deese led his platoon against enemy machine-gun nests, silencing them. He hade his way through a heavy barrage, encountering and breaking an enemy counterattack. Progressing slowly and with great difficulty on account of the deadly fire, he reached a strongly fortified position of the enemy, where he captured many prisoners and machine guns, and which he defended until the arrival of support. During the action he was again wounded, the effects of which caused his death.