Bret V. Bates

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Bret V. Bates, Captain, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near Chaudron Farm, France, October 1, 1918. When the Sanitary detachment, with which he was working, was ordered to fall back under intense artillery and machine-gun fire, Captain Bates (then First Lieutenant), upon his own volition and contrary to the advice of others, refused to leave the wounded men, who had not been evacuated, but remained with them throughout the day, ministering to them under the most violent fire, in utter disregard for his own safety. When night came, he secured litter bearers and succeeded in taking all the wounded to safety.