John H. Fling

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to John H. Fling, First Sergeant, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action at Cheppy, France, September 26 and 27, 1918. When his company commander was killed and his company left without officers, Sergeant Fling took command of the company, successfully withdrew it from the midst of machine-gun nests, reorganized it and continued the advance. He was severely wounded in the head next day, but insisted on remaining on duty with his company and advancing in the attack, notwithstanding the fact that the advance was over a gassed area and his wounds prevented his wearing a gas mask.