Joseph William Lawlor

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Joseph William Lawlor, First Lieutenant, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action at St. Martin-Riviere, France, October 17, 1918. Being the only officer left with the company, Lieutenant Lawlor was ordered to clear a village of the enemy. Most of his command became separated from him in a dense fog, but with his one remaining squad he proceeded to accomplish his mission. Lieutenant Lawler and one soldier came upon a hundred Germans operating machine guns from behind a hedge and succeeded in capturing 50 of the enemy. This officer then pursued the others, exchanging shots with a German officer as he ran.