Herbert C. Bolton

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Herbert C. Bolton, Private, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action during the Meuse-Argonne offensive, France, November 2 and 5, 1918. On November 2, 1918, Private Bolton advanced with the assaulting company of the 60th Infantry into Chery-le-Petit and under intense enemy artillery and machine-gun fire, laid telephone lines, thus establishing communication between the forward elements and the regimental headquarters. On November 5, 1918, Private Bolton extended the telephone lines across the Meuse River and to the bank of the canal. Undeterred by the fact that the bridge across the canal was destroyed by enemy shell fire, Private Bolton under heavy enemy fire swam the canal with telephone equipment on his back and established communication between the advancing units of the regiment and the regimental headquarters. By his conspicuous bravery and utter disregard of personal safety in going forward as one of the first of the attacking forces, Private Bolton contributed largely to the success of the engagement.