Harry S. Gabriel

By direction of the President, under the provisions of the act of Congress approved July 9, 1918 (Bul. No. 43, W.D., 1918), First Lieutenant (Infantry) Harry S. Gabriel, United States Army, is cited by the Commanding General, American Expeditionary Forces, for gallantry in action and a silver star may be placed upon the ribbon of the Victory Medals awarded him. First Lieutenant Gabriel distinguished himself by gallantry in action while serving with the 316th Infantry Regiment, 79th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, in action near Verdun, France, 6 November 1918, in repulsing four enemy combat patrols.

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Harry S. Gabriel, First Lieutenant, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action at Molleville Farm, near Hill 378, Grande Montagne sector, France, November 3, 1918. Between 6:30 and 9 o’clock Lieutenant Gabriel fought with two platoons through a dense thicket against an unlocated enemy, who resisted with constant artillery and machine gun fire. The two officers of the platoons on his left were killed, as well as his accompanying officer, Lieutenant Rudolph E. Peterson. Although his men were decimated, he rallied them four separate times and took command of the men originally on his left after their officers were killed, and renewed his assaults against hidden machine-gun nests on Hill 370. His small group silenced 7 machine guns and captured several prisoners. He reached his objective-Hill 370-in spite of terrific losses, definitely located the enemy, which was the main purpose of the reconnaissance, and assisted in the capture of 7 machine-gun nests. The extraordinary courage of Lieutenant Gabriel, his coolness and superb devotion to duty served as a constant inspiration to every man of the 316th Infantry Regiment.