Joseph W. Smith

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Joseph W. Smith, First Lieutenant, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near St. Baussant, northeast of St. Mihiel, France, September 12, 1918. Finding that his platoon would be under heavy fire of enemy machine-guns while crossing the Rupt de Mad, Lieutenant Smith, rather than permit the advance to be delayed, unhesitatingly plunged into the stream, crossed it under heavy fire, ascertained the exact location of the enemy, brought his platoon through the river by a protected route, and with it flanked and captured six machine-guns and 19 prisoners.