John J. Monson

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to John J. Monson, Private, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near Binarville, France, September 29, 1918. In order to obtain ammunition and rations, Private Monson, with another soldier, accompanied an officer in an effort to reestablish communication between battalion and regimental headquarters. They were attacked by a small party of Germans, but drove them off, killing one. When night came, they crawled unknowingly into the center of a German camp, where they lay for three hours, undetected. Finally discovered, they made a dash to escape. In order to protect the officer, Private Monson deliberately drew the enemy fire to himself, allowing the officer to escape. Private Monson succeeded in getting through and delivering his message the next morning.