Matthew Spautz

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Matthew Spautz, Sergeant, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near the Ourcq River, northeast of Chateau-Thierry, France. During the advance of July 30, 1918, while in command of his platoon, Sergeant Spautz showed extraordinary heroism, leading his men on in the advance, having three times been knocked down by enemy shells. After having been wounded by machine-gun fire, he still continued to advance. He was finally killed while doing his utmost to advance.