Walter H. Detrow

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Walter H. Detrow, Private, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near Sergy, France, August 1, 1918. After all the officers and noncommissioned officers of his platoon had been lost, Private Detrow assumed command of the platoon, successfully leading it from its critical situation to the objective through a terrific machine-gun and shell fire. He performed this gallant act without any previous instructions or orders and acted entirely upon his own initiative.