Francis A. Awl

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Francis A. Awl, Captain, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action during the Meuse- Argonne offensive, September 26 – 29, 1918. On September 26, when a portion of his company had been pocketed on a ridge and subjected to enfilade fire of the enemy’s machine guns and snipers, disregarding his own safety, Captain Awl crawled into the open on the exposed flank and, by engaging the enemy, enabled his men to withdraw, thereby saving a great loss of life and permitting the unit to reform for a further advance. Later he repeatedly led successful attacks against superior numbers and machine-gun nests. While in an attack on September 29 he was severely wounded and refused to be evacuated until forced to do so.