Lewis Watkins

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Lewis Watkins, Private First Class, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near Eply, France, November 4, 1918. Private First Class Watkins accompanied an infantry patrol, acting as gunner with a heavy machine-gun. When a large party of the enemy had worked around the flank of the patrol and was advancing across a road along which the patrol was withdrawing he went into action with his gun at a range of less than 100 yards, although the order to withdraw had been given. Displaying exceptional coolness and bravery under heavy rifle and machine-gun fire, he succeeded in dispersing the enemy. He was the last of the patrol to retire.