John C. Persons

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to John C. Persons, Captain, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action at St. Thibaut, France, August 8, 1918. While serving as adjutant, 47th Infantry, Captain Persons was instructed by his regimental commander to deliver a message to the brigade commander. The telephone lines to the rear having been destroyed, he proceeded under intense enemy fire through a narrow pass, accompanied by a corporal and private of his regiment. Exposed to constant enemy fire, he had reached a place of safety when he learned that the corporal had been hit by enemy fire. Immediately returning, he carried the corporal to a dressing station in a storm of machine-gun and rifle fire from the enemy lines, thus saving the soldier’s life and in utter disregard for his own safety.