Joseph F. Esser

By direction of the President, under the provisions of the act of Congress approved July 9, 1918 (Bul. No. 43, W.D., 1918), Corporal Joseph F. Esser (ASN: 1827192), 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. Corporal Esser distinguished himself by gallantry in action while serving with Company H, 319th Infantry Regiment, 80th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, in action near Immecourt, France, 1 November 1918, in aiding in the capture of 200 prisoners.

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Joseph F. Esser, Corporal, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action at Imecourt, France, November 1, 1918. When his company was held up by enemy machine-gun fire, Corporal Esser, having no rifle grenades, searched about with disregard for his own safety until he found two, with which he boldly attacked the enemy, causing the surrender of two hundred Germans.