Ferdinando Bonavantura

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Ferdinando Bonavantura, Private, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near St. Juvin, France, October 19, 1918. Private Bonavantura, armed with an automatic rifle, captured a machine gun single handed under heavy flanking fire from machine guns. The gun was supported by a squad of infantry, whom he forced to flee. Later he led a detail far into the enemy lines, encouraging his men by his fearless example.