Frank R. Potter

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Frank R. Potter, Captain, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action at the town of Arbre Guernon, France, October 17 – 18, 1918. Organizing his units just before entering the town, Captain Potter advanced under heavy machine-gun and rifle fire, captured the town with numerous prisoners, and from his new position silenced several enemy machine guns. On the morning of October 18, while he was in command of the 105th Infantry Battalion he advanced about 300 yards and was stopped by intense machine-gun fire. His coolness and complete indifference to danger inspired his men to further advance despite the heavy machine-gun fire from the strongly held position in a sunken road immediately in the battalions front, which position was promptly captured, together with numerous prisoners and machine guns.