John W. O’Daniel
Home Town: Newark, DE
Distinguished Service Cross
World War I
U.S. Army
General Orders No. No. 128, W.D., 1918
The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to John W. O’Daniel, Second Lieutenant, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near Bois-St. Claude, in the St. Mihiel salient, September 12, 1918. After being severely wounded in the head early in the action Lieutenant O’Daniel continued in command of his platoon, leading his men for several hours until forced to give in to complete physical exhaustion, thus displaying most exceptional courage, determination, and devotion to duty.