William Holzgrebe
Home Town: Escanaba, MI
Status: KIA
General Orders No. No. 140, W.D., 1918
The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to William Holzgrebe, Private, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near Verdun, France, October 11 – 13, 1918. Private Holzgrebe, runner of the 3d Battalion, 125th Infantry, during the taking and holding of the line near La Tuilerie Ferme, was engaged in carrying important messages, crossing and re-crossing death valley, between Hill 258 and La Cote Dame Marie, the foremost part of the line held by the 3d Battalion. The valley was swept by machine-gun fire, the terrain affording absolutely no protection, requiring a perilous dash of 500 yards over open ground before any cover was reached. It was only by display of supreme courage that important messages reached the battalion.