George L. Keene

By direction of the President, under the provisions of the act of Congress approved July 9, 1918 (Bul. No. 43, W.D., 1918), Sergeant George L. Keene (ASN: 58296), United States Army, is cited for gallantry in action and a silver star may be placed upon the ribbon of the Victory Medals awarded him. Sergeant Keene distinguished himself by gallantry in action while serving with Company K, 28th Infantry Regiment, 1st Division, American Expeditionary Forces, in action northeast of Exermont, France, 9 October 1918, while remaining in command of his platoon, although suffering from the effects of gas.

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to George L. Keene, Corporal, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near Soissons, France, July 18 – 19, 1918. Corporal Keene, then acting sergeant, rendered splendid assistance to his commanding officer in helping him to organize and lead a group of American and French Colonial soldiers against an enemy strong point located in a rock quarry on high ground. During the attack, Corporal Keene was in command of the troops on the right flank, and in storming the position, he rushed forward at the head of his men, hurled a hand grenade in the trenches, subdued one of the most difficult posts of the enemy position and personally captured an officer on whom was found important maps of the enemy positions. On the second day, Corporal Keene served in the capacity of an officer by commanding a company in the first wave of the attack formation and when his battalion commander became wounded he rendered valuable aid in assisting in maintaining control of formations until the objective was reached.