George C. Carroll

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to George C. Carroll, First Lieutenant (Air Service), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near Fort de Marr, France, September 26, 1918. Lieutenant Carroll had ascended in a balloon to a height of 1 kilometer on a reglagemission, when he was attacked by enemy planes; but he refused to leave his post and fired on the planes with his pistol while incendiary bullets were striking his basket and balloon. He was finally forced to jump when his balloon burst into flames, but he re-ascended as soon as a new balloon could be inflated. On three other occasions Lieutenant Carroll also gave proof of exceptional courage by remaining in his balloon in the face of aeroplane attacks, jumping only when his balloon took fire and immediately re-ascending when a new balloon could be inflated.