Alan Rogers

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Alan Rogers, Second Lieutenant, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near La Palletta Pavillion, France, October 4, 1918. Having taken command of his company after the company commander and second in command had been wounded, Lieutenant Rogers personally undertook a reconnaissance of the front line. Crawling forward alone under intense rifle and machine-gun fire for 200 yards, to within 30 yards of an enemy machine-gun nest, he was seriously wounded in the knee, but, applying a tourniquet to his leg, he succeeded in crawling back to his company. Here he resumed command, and, though suffering intense pain, gave instructions for repelling an expected counterattack, directing that no man be taken from the firing line to carry him to the rear. For seven hours after being wounded he remained with his command, inspiring his men by his fortitude and courage.