Patrick Richard Dunigan

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Patrick Richard Dunigan, Major (Chaplain), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near Sergy, in the valley of the Ourcq River, France, July 31, August 1 – 4, 1918. While performing his duties as chaplain of the 126th Infantry, 32d Division, Chaplain Dunigan repeatedly displayed exceptional qualities of personal courage and heroism in attendance upon the wounded, and dying, going from the most advanced points of the firing line to the several dressing stations, crossing and re-crossing the lowlands of the Ourcq River which were under intense artillery and machine-gun fire; again crossing and re-crossing them when the entire valley was drenched with gas, and against the protests of officers who warned him that he was doing so at the imminent risk of his own life. After having been severely gassed while in the performance of these errands of mercy, and tagged for evacuation, he refused to be evacuated and still persisted in carrying his errands of mercy to the wounded and dying, thereby enhancing the morale of the troops in his fearless disregard of personal danger and contributed materially to the success of the capture of the heights beyond the Ourcq River and the advance to the Vesle river at Fismes.