Eilert G. Heiken
Home Town: Ottawa, KS
Distinguished Service Cross
World War I
U.S. Army
General Orders No. 37, W.D., 1919
The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Eilert G. Heiken, First Lieutenant, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action in the Argonne and St. Mihiel (France) drives, September 23 and November 9 – 10, 1918. On the night of September 23, though wounded in the shoulder at the beginning of the attack on Domartin Wood, Lieutenant Heiken continued until his mission was successfully accomplished. On the night of November 9, with eight men, he was the first to cross the Meuse and patrol enemy lines. On the night of November 10, with 20 men, he covered the crossing of his battalion until severely wounded.
