Joseph Swift

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Joseph Swift, Fist Lieutenant, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near Epinonville, France, September 27, 1918, and near Gesnes, France, September 29, 1918. After a machine gun company had in vain attempted for an hour to silence a machine gun which was causing heavy losses to his regiment, Lieutenant Swift, armed only with a pistol, advanced alone upon the enemy position. He killed the crew of four men, saving the lives of many of our men and rendering a more rapid advance possible. In the attack on Gesnes, while making a daring attempt to perform a similar act, Lieutenant Swift was killed by enemy fire.