Leon Durand

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Leon Durand, Private First Class, French Army, for extraordinary heroism in action in France on September 12, 1918. While his platoon was being held up by enemy grenadiers, Soldat Durand opened fire from his machine gun and prevented an enemy counterattack. An exploding mine had damaged his gun, and, when the enemy rushed forward he jumped from his position, and, with the aid of hand grenades, he resisted the advance and caused many casualties.