Laurence E. Heiden

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Laurence E. Heiden, Private, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action northeast of Suippes, France, July 15, 1918. After he had been severely wounded in his left hand by a bursting enemy shell, Private Heiden found a comrade who was wounded so severely that he could not travel unaided. Shells were bursting around the spot where this man lay and any halt there subjected the man to grave danger, but Private Heiden went to the aid of the wounded man, carried him through the shell fire, despite the suffering to himself, and delivered his comrade to the litter bearers. Private Heiden had then suffered such loss of blood that it was necessary for him to be carried by litter the remainder of the way to the dressing station, but he insisted that his comrade be brought in first and given attention. The spirit of self-sacrifice displayed by Private Heiden on this occasion reflects great credit upon himself and the Army in which he served.