Harry P. Merritt
Distinguished Service Cross
U.S. Army
World War I
General Orders No. 44, W.D., 1919
The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Harry P. Merritt, Sergeant, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near Grand Pre, France, November 1, 1918, After having established an observation post without aid in broad daylight and under perilous shell fire of the enemy, Sergeant Merritt volunteered and carried rations to the post under cover of darkness. Though knocked down by shell concussion, he reached every man who was unable to leave his post, and his entire exploit was carried out under most harassing machine-gun and artillery fire.