Mathias Willoughby Haney

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Mathias Willoughby Haney, Captain, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near Montfaucon Hill, France, September 26 – 28, 1918. Captain Haney, then a lieutenant, displayed exceptional skill in extricating his company from a perilous position into which it had moved because of a dense fog, and, in so doing, captured prisoners whose number exceeded that of his own command. Taking command of his battalion next day at a critical time he succeeded in stopping a threatened retreat, and under heavy machine-gun and shell fire reestablished the line. On September 28, near Septsarges, Captain Haney led his battalion forward through heavy fire, advancing his line one kilometer and holding it against counterattacks until he was relieved.