Gustave Ehrhardt

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Gustave Ehrhardt, Captain, French Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near Cheppy, France, September 25-26, 1918. As liaison officer it was no part of Captain Ehrhardt’s duty to go into action with the forward elements of the regiment, but he insisted upon doing so. Undaunted by a wound in the left arm, caused by a bursting shell, he continued to advance in the face of very intense shell fire. He was again struck down by a shell fragment which shattered his right arm, but he rose and followed the regimental commander into the shell-swept area. He was knocked down a third time by shell fragments, from which he received wounds in the back so severe in character that he was unable to rise, later receiving additional wounds in the body.