Mowry E. Goetz

By direction of the President, under the provisions of the act of Congress approved July 9, 1918 (Bul. No. 43, W.D., 1918), Captain (Infantry) Mowry E. Goetz, United States Army, is cited by the Commanding General, American Expeditionary Forces, for gallantry in action and a silver star may be placed upon the ribbon of the Victory Medals awarded him. Captain Goetz distinguished himself by gallantry in action while serving with Headquarters Company, 316th Infantry Regiment, 79th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, in action in the operations against Hill 378, near Verdun, France, on 6 November 1918, and by his brilliant leadership.

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Mowry E. Goetz, First Lieutenant, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action at Bois-de-Beuge, north of Montfaucon, France, September 29, 1918. Orders having been received at regimental headquarters to withdraw the troops to the Bois-de- Beuge, and a provisional battalion of the regiment occupying an advance position in which they were surrounded by enemy forces, the order for retirement of the battalion was not delivered to the battalion commander. Later in the afternoon it was learned that an American barrage would fall on the woods (Bois-de-Beuge) occupied by the battalion. Lieutenant Goetz volunteered to carry orders for the withdrawal of the battalion and, despite terrific enemy machine-gun and artillery fire, he made his way over rough and broken country, accompanied voluntarily by Private Roy B. Andes. They accomplished their mission, returning with the battalion to the new position as the American shells commenced to fall upon the Bois-de-Beuge.