Joseph J. Cassidy

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Joseph J. Cassidy, Private First Class, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action in the Bois d’Etrayes, near Verdun, France, October 23, 1918. In spite of being very ill and near exhaustion, Private Cassidy, with his gun crew, under almost continuous shell fire for more than 24 hours remained directing and encouraging the men of his depleted squad. Private Cassidy was killed by shell fire while he was faithfully engaged in keeping his machine gun in action.