Hanford Macnider

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Hanford MacNider, Captain, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near Medeah Ferme, France, October 3 – 9, 1918. Captain MacNider voluntarily joined an attacking battalion on October 3, and accompanied it to its final objectives. During the second attack on the same day, he acted as a runner through heavy artillery and machine-gun fire. He visited the lines both night and day, where the fighting was most severe. When higher authority could not be reached, he assumed responsibilities, and gave the necessary orders to stabilize serious situations. When new and untried troops took up the attack, he joined their forward elements, determined the enemy points of resistance by personal reconnaissance, uncovered enemy machine-gun nests and supervised their destruction.

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Hanford MacNider, Captain, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near Remeriauville, France, September 12, 1918. On duty as regimental adjutant, while carrying instructions to the assaulting lines, Captain MacNider found the line unable to advance and being disorganized by a heavy machine- gun fire. Running forward in the face of the fire, this officer captured a German machine- gun, drove off the crew, reorganized the line on that flank, and thereby enabled the advance to continue.

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting a Second Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Third Award of the Distinguished Service Cross to Hanford MacNider, Brigadier General, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy in action against enemy forces during World War II. Brigadier General MacNider’s intrepid actions, personal bravery and zealous devotion to duty exemplify the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.