Joseph L. Kenngott

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Joseph L. Kenngott, Sergeant, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action northwest of Grand Pre, France, October 25, 1918, and November 1, 1918. Sergeant Kenngott showed great fearlessness and bravery on October 25, 1918, when he made a reconnaissance on the right flank of his company after the objective had been gained. Without waiting for orders Sergeant Kenngott took four men with rifles and rifle grenades and established a position on this flank which was exposed to heavy enemy machine-gun fire. He bravely maintained this position throughout the day, stubbornly resisting all enemy efforts against the flank, driving back several patrols, and personally putting two machine guns out of action, killing or wounding the crew. As platoon leader on November 1, 1918, Sergeant Kenngott hastily organized the remnants of his company after it had advanced into an ambuscade of enemy machine guns, succeeded in extracting it from this perilous position, consolidated the position, and when reinforcements arrived led the attack which resulted in the destruction of the enemy machine-gun nests and permitted his regiment’s subsequent advance.