Rufus R. Phillips

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Rufus R. Phillips, Private, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near Brancourt, France, October 9, 1918. When his company was about to reach its objective, a sunken road, Private Phillips’ company was swept by enfilading fire from several hostile machine-guns. Upon his own initiative this soldier jumped down the bank, mounted his automatic rifle in the center of the road in the face of the enemy’s fire, and opened fire, sweeping the parapets of the hostile positions with well-directed fire. His act resulted in the capture of the 30 Germans occupying the post.