George C. Hart

By direction of the President, under the provisions of the act of Congress approved July 9, 1918 (Bul. No. 43, W.D., 1918), Captain (Infantry) George C. Hart, United States Army, is cited by the Commanding General, American Expeditionary Forces, for gallantry in action and a silver star may be placed upon the ribbon of the Victory Medals awarded him. Captain Hart distinguished himself by gallantry in action while serving with the 309th Machine-Gun Battalion, 78th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, in action at Grand Pre, France, 25 October 1918, and by his brilliant leadership.

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to George C. Hart, Captain, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near Grand Pre, France, October 25 – 26, 1918. On October 25 Captain Hart volunteered to lead his company into a particularly dangerous sector on the ridge north of Grand Pre, offering their use practically as infantry. His act was of inestimable value in strengthening the morale of the Infantry battalion which had suffered very heavy casualties and had no prospect of relief. On the morning of October 26 during a counterattack he not only personally directed the location of his machine guns in the outpost line, but by his splendid example of fearlessness he rallied and commanded the Infantry when no other officer was available, and was an inspiration to both the infantrymen and machine gunners in holding the ridge. He fought valiantly until very seriously wounded by enemy machine-gun fire.