Daniel R. Edwards

By direction of the President, under the provisions of the act of Congress approved July 9, 1918 (Bul. No. 43, W.D., 1918), Private Daniel R. Edwards, United States Army, is cited by the Commanding General, 1st Division, American Expeditionary Forces, for gallantry in action and a silver star may be placed upon the ribbon of the Victory Medals awarded him. Private Edwards distinguished himself by gallantry in action while serving with Company C, 3rd Machine Gun Battalion, 1st Division, American Expeditionary Forces, in action during the operations connected with the capture and defense of Cantigny, France, 27 to 31 May 1918. Private Edwards refused to leave his gun and continued its operation after the other men of his crew had been killed and he, himself, had been wounded.

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Daniel R. Edwards, Private, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action at Cantigny, France, may 28 – 30, 1918. Serving as gunner of his machine-gun squad Private Edwards advanced with the first assault line of the Infantry and while passing through the village of Cantigny at 5:30 a.m., May 28 carrying his machine gun upon his shoulder, he was attacked by an enemy soldier and bayoneted, receiving a severe wrist wound; the enemy soldier was killed by an infantryman. Continuing in the advance beyond Cantigny and meeting intense enemy fire, the attacking wave was halted. Private Edwards with his squad remained in an advanced position, protecting with his fire the Infantry which had fallen back to a more advantageous position and were entrenching. While thus engaged the machine gunners repulsed two determined enemy counterattacks, during which the three members of the squad accompanying Private Edwards were killed and he himself severely wounded. Despite these wounds, which he himself dressed, he remained alone in his position throughout the day, firing whenever a target offered, withstanding attacks by liquid fire and machine-gun fire, he refused to be evacuated and continued to operate his gun until nightfall, when his company was relieved. His extraordinary bravery and devotion to duty, his fortitude and undaunted determination despite his numerous and painful wounds, incited the men of his battalion to splendid endeavors and raised their morale to an extremely high pitch.