Carl J. Lechner

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Carl J. Lechner, Corporal, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action at Badonviller, France, May 29, 1918. during a raid on our trenches by a superior enemy force, Corporal Lechner engaged in a hand-to-hand bayonet fight with one of the enemy who had penetrated our line and killed him. Although fatally wounded in this encounter, he propped himself up on the parapet and continued to fire his rifle at the enemy until they were repulsed. He later died as a result of wounds sustained in this action.