Leroy W. Smith

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Leroy W. Smith, Sergeant, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near St. Martin Revere, France, October 17, 1918. Immediately after the starting of the attack Sergeant Smith collapsed from gas, but realizing the extreme need of a compass in the dense fog and having the only one of the company he struggled along by his company commander, indicating the proper direction with his hands, being unable to talk. He refused evacuation, and voluntarily led a patrol to establish liaison with his right flank, being subjected to annihilating machine-gun fire during the entire exploit.