George W. Spears

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to George W. Spears, Corporal, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near Poncheaux, France, October 7, 1918. When part of the line had been halted by heavy fire from three machine-gun nests, Corporal Spears and Private Thomas G. Cagle, armed only with rifles and bayonets, rushed the nearest hostile position, and, of the crew of sis, killed three and put the remainder to flight. Being unable to advance on two other guns because of their heavy fire, these two soldiers then opened fire with their rifles and forced the reminder of the crew of approximately 12 to abandon the position after two of their number had been killed and two wounded.