Ira V. Swanger
Home Town: Persia, IA
Distinguished Service Cross
World War I
U.S. Army
General Orders No. 44, W.D., 1919
The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Ira V. Swanger, Corporal, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action at Marcheville, France, November 10, 1918. After showing exceptional bravery and judgment in leading his squad against enemy machine-gun positions, Corporal Swanger was mortally wounded. Realizing that he had no chance of recovery, he refused to permit stretcher bearers to take him to the rear, urging them to care for others whose condition was serious.