Frank J. Gardella

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Frank J. Gardella, Sergeant, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action north of the River Ourcq, near Villers-sur-Fere, France, July 28, 1918. When two enemy airplanes flew parallel to our Infantry lines north of the River Ourcq, pouring machine- gun bullets into our positions and driving everyone to cover, Sergeant Gardella rushed to his machine gun and took aim at the upper of the two machines. Although he was constantly subject to a storm of bullets from the planes and from enemy snipers on the ground, he nevertheless coolly sighted his gun and riddled the upper plane. It collapsed and fell in flames, striking the lower one as it fell and causing it to crash to the earth also.