Haakon A. Rossum

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Haakon A. Rossum, Corporal, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near Charlevaux, France, October 3 – 7, 1918. During the five days that his battalion was cut off and surrounded by the enemy, and throughout these five days of hunger, suffering, and enemy attacks, Corporal Rossum commanded an advanced outpost, in a position exposed to each hostile onslaught. He was subjected constantly to fire from snipers, machine-guns, trench mortars, and hand grenades. By his high courage, personal example and inspiring leadership, he defeated all attempts of the enemy to force his post back, and, by so doing, aided materially in the defense of his section of the line.