Harry Mates
Distinguished Service Cross
U.S. Army
World War I
General Orders No. 21, W.D., 1919
The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Harry Mates, Private, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near Blanc Mont Ridge, France, October 3, 1918. While acting as company runner Private Mates carried messages under heavy shell and machine-gun fire. When a machine-gun nest caused a temporary halt in the advance of his company he attacked the nest, capturing three prisoners. He assisted wounded men, applied first aid, and removed them through heavy shell fire to the dressing station.