Thomas J. Mchale

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Thomas J. McHale, Private, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action at the Bois- de-Grimpettes, near Sergy, France, July 30, 1918. When the attack on the Bois-de- Grimpettes was held up by heavy enemy machine-gun and artillery fire, Private McHale volunteered to locate the enemy machine-gun nests. After locating the enemy’s positions he returned and with a platoon charged and cleared the nests, killing many of the crew, and successfully led the platoon to the outer edge of the woods where it was found that the enemy was preparing for a counterattack. Private McHale returned and guided his company to the position occupied by the platoon where it later repulsed the enemy counterattack. The courage, judgment, and leadership displayed by Private McHale were a great inspiration to the other members of the command.