Joseph M. Davidson

By direction of the President, under the provisions of the act of Congress approved July 9, 1918 (Bul. No. 43, W.D., 1918), First Lieutenant (Infantry) Joseph M. Davidson, United States Army, is cited (Posthumously) 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. First Lieutenant Davidson distinguished himself by gallantry in action while serving with the 318th Infantry Regiment, 80th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, in action near La Polka Farm, France, 1 October 1918, in leading his platoon forward against an enemy machine gun nest.

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Joseph M. Davidson, First Lieutenant, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near La Polka Farm, France, November 4, 1918. First Lieutenant Davidson’s line was stopped 300 yards from the La Polka Farm by a terrific concentration of machine-gun fire directed from the high ground and woods on the farm. By his coolness and courage he quickly collected together a platoon, and leading them across open ground swept by machine-gun fire, he attacked the machine guns. Just before reaching the enemy, Lieutenant Davidson was killed, but his men, inspired by his coolness and devotion, fought on and captured the machine-gun nests.