Oscar L. Farris

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Oscar L. Farris, First Lieutenant, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near La Hale Menneresse, France, October 17, 1918. While in charge of a platoon of his company, which was manning the immediate guns supporting the advancing infantry his platoon was caught in the enemy’s counterbarrage and many men became casualties. Lieutenant Farris reorganized the remaining men into squads, collecting stragglers and was able to push ahead with all guns and reached the objective on schedule time despite the heavy machine-gun and trench-mortar fire of the enemy. After reaching the objective he offered his services to the Infantry commander who had him advance four of his machine guns to protect his right flank, enabling the withdrawal of Lewis guns on that flank for use elsewhere. His able leadership and initiative contributed largely to the success of the operation.