Alden Clifford Purrington

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Alden Clifford Purrington, Second Lieutenant, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near Bois d’Aigremont, France, July 15, 1918. While the German barrage preceding their drive of July 15 was at its worst, Lieutenant Perrington volunteered to go through the barrage in Bois d’Aigremont to secure hand grenades for the defense of a wooded ravine after the forward grenade dump was blown up. This was at a time when it seemed impossible for any human being to get through the barrage. Throughout the entire engagement Lieutenant Perrington volunteered to lead a number of patrols, both to the front and flanks.