Orvil L. Cotten

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Orvil L. Cotton, Corporal, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near Bellicourt, France, September 27, 1918. In order to maintain communication between two regiments of Infantry, and, after an assisting detachment had suffered severe casualties, Corporal Cotten alone kept the line in repair, working under constant heavy shellfire. Although badly gassed, he refused evacuation, requesting and obtaining permission to continue with his work.