Willard D. Petty

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Willard D. Petty, Private, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near Consenvoye, France, October 10, 1918. Showing utter disregard of personal danger, Private Petty went to the rescue of his wounded platoon leader who lay in a zone covered by heavy enemy machine-gun fire, being himself mortally wounded in the, attempt. Private Petty volunteered to attempt the rescue, which cost him his life, after two of his comrades had been killed and another wounded in similar trials.