Charles Duke Dushane

The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Charles Duke Dushane (1290919), Second Lieutenant, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with the 60th Infantry Regiment, 9th Infantry Division, in action against enemy forces on 8 November 1942, in North Africa. With help of three enlisted men, Second Lieutenant Dushane entered the lighthouse on the Kasba-Mehdia after crossing enemy barbed wire entanglements while under heavy enemy small arms fire and captured 12 hostile troops who were using machine guns and rifles. This enabled our troops to take the strategic position commanded by the lighthouse. He later demonstrated coolness and bravery beyond the call of duty when upon the withdrawal of our troops from the native village, he and Corporal Frank L. Czar manned an enemy anti-tank gun in full view of the enemy. Part of the breech of the gun had been removed and he was able to fire the gun only by firing bullets from his sub-machine gun into the base of the anti-tank shell. Meanwhile Corporal Czar aimed the gun. In this manner he destroyed one enemy tank and delayed the enemy attack. It was while operating this gun that Second Lieutenant Dushane lost his life. Second Lieutenant Dushane’s intrepid actions, personal bravery and zealous devotion to duty at the cost of his life, exemplify the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflect great credit upon himself, the 9th Infantry Division, and the United States Army.

Allied Force