Brehon B. Somervell

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Brehon B. Somervell, Lieutenant Colonel (Corps of Engineers), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near Pouilly, France, November 5 – 6, 1918. Voluntarily serving on the staff of the 89th Division, Lieutenant Colonel Somervell conducted the first engineering reconnaissance of the damaged bridges at Pouilly, advancing more than 500 meters beyond the American outposts, crossing three branches of the Meuse River, and successfully reconnoitering the enemy.