Norris W. Gillette

By direction of the President, under the provisions of the act of Congress approved July 9, 1918 (Bul. No. 43, W.D., 1918), First Lieutenant (Medical Corps) Norris W. Gillette, 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. First Lieutenant Gillette distinguished himself by gallantry in action while serving with 148th Ambulance Company, 112th Sanitary Train, 37th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, in action northeast of Avacourt, France, 26 September 1918, in assuming command of and reorganizing his battalion.

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Norris W. Gillette, First Lieutenant, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near Montfaucon, France, September 26, 1918. While in command of a medical detachment working forward through the woods on the right flank of the 73d Brigade sector, Lieutenant Gillette encountered a large number of men in confusion who were without officers and under fire from enemy snipers located both at the edge of the woods and at a strong point on a knoll beyond it. By his remarkable courage and tact, and through the power of his inspiring heroic example, the scattered troops were reorganized into squad and platoon groups and took up a position from which they as part of a battalion later moved forward and drove the enemy from the woods and overcame the enemy’s strong point.