Edmund C. Waddill

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Edmund C. Waddill, Major, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near Chateau-Thierry, France, June 6, 7 and 25, and near Soissons, France, July 18, 1918. During the attack by his battalion near Chateau-Thierry Major Waddill displayed exceptional bravery by advancing in the open under intense shell and machine-gun fire, reorganizing his leading echelons and pressing the attack with the utmost disregard for personal danger. On June 25 he went among his troops during a heavy gas attack, disregarding his own danger, in order to protect his men, remaining in the sector and refusing to be evacuated until he had been so badly burned by gas that his face was black. In the Soissons-Reims attack he again displayed marked courage and leadership in personally taking the lead with his battalion and pushing forward the attack until further advance was stopped by darkness.