Ira C. Rayner
Home Town: Hollandale, MS
Distinguished Service Cross
World War I
U.S. Army
General Orders No. 37, W.D., 1919
The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Ira C. Rayner, Sergeant, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near Nonsard, France, September 12, 1918. Although under fire for the first time and very ill with a high fever, Sergeant Rayner took charge of the platoon after the platoon leader had been killed, and effectively directed it for two days, in spite of his physical condition, refusing to be evacuated until in a state of collapse.