John E. West
Distinguished Service Cross
U.S. Army
World War I
General Orders No. 2, W.D., 1919
The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to John E. West, Sergeant, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near Verdun, France, October 8 – 16, 1918, in the Bois-de-Consenvoye on October 8, and the Bois-de-Grande Montagne on October 16. Sergeant West ably led his platoon with extreme courage and gallantry, and by his conduct inspired the men of his platoon to greater effort. This soldier led a detachment against a strongly protected enemy machine- gun nest and successfully took the position under heavy fire.