Fitzgerald Walden

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Fitzgerald Walden, First Sergeant, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near St. Etienne, France, October 8, 1918. After his company commander had been killed, Sergeant Walden took command of that portion of the company near him and, reorganizing the line under heavy fire, continued the attack. He was wounded in the head shortly afterward, but he continued forward with his men and repulsed an enemy counter- attack. He refused to be evacuated until nightfall, when he was no longer able to stand.