Herman W. Steinkraus

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Herman W. Steinkraus, First Lieutenant, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near the Bois-de-Bantheville, France, October 15, 1918. Continuing in command of his company, after he had been instructed to go to the rear for treatment for an infected leg, Lieutenant Steinkraus skillfully extricated his company with few casualties, when it became suddenly exposed to intense machine-gun fire from both flanks. Reinforcing his command with stragglers he organized a strong right flank guard by utilizing captured German machine-guns and succeeded in maintaining his position.