John F. Lanergan

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to John F. Lanergan, Private, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near Verdun, France, October 23, 1918, and in the Belie Bois, France, October 27, 1918. While engaged as runner during the attack on Houppy Bois on October 23, Private Lanergan made repeated trips over an area swept by machine-gun and artillery fire. On October 27, after all his superior officers had become casualties, Private Lanergan assembled scattered combat groups and, after reorganizing them, led them in a successful counterattack against the enemy.