Ivan L. Lautenbacher

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Ivan L. Lautenbacher, First Lieutenant, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near Verdun, France, October 2, 1918. Although suffering from a severe illness Lieutenant Lautenbacher refused to be evacuated and remained with his organization. When his company commander was seriously wounded, he took command of the company and pressed the attack until he received wounds which result in his making the supreme sacrifice.