Blanton Winship

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Blanton Winship, Colonel, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near Lachaussee, France, November 9, 1918. While commanding his regiment and observing from his outpost line the progress of a daylight raid on the enemy by a detachment of his officers and men, Colonel Winship discovered the enemy enveloping the right flank of the raiding party. Hastily collecting and organizing a small party from the few available men, he, regardless of his own safety, personally led them forward under heavy rifle, machine- gun, and shell fire, and covered the exposed flank, advancing over a deep tank obstruction and through enemy wire to their second line, destroying several machine guns and killing many of the enemy. His prompt and fearless action enabled the main raiding party to accomplish its mission, and his personal conduct was a great inspiration to his officers and men and contributed largely to the success of the raid.