John W. Leach

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to John W. Leach, First Lieutenant, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near Bellicourt, France, September 29, 1918. About 6.30 in the morning of September 29 Lieutenant Leach received a serious wound which rendered his right arm useless. Notwithstanding his suffering and weakness from loss of blood he continued to lead his platoon toward its objective until after 1 o’clock on that day, when he became so exhausted and weak that he was ordered to the aid station by his commanding officer and from there was evacuated to the hospital