William Mcilwain
Born:
Home Town: Lone Wolf, OK
Status:
General Orders No. No. 16, W.D., 1929
The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to William McIlwain, First Lieutenant (Medical Corps), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near Bazoches, France, August 27, 1918. From the south side of the Vesle, Lieutenant McIlwain volunteered to accompany the attacking platoons in the attack on the town of Bazoches. He crossed the river under heavy enemy artillery and machine-gun fire and entered the town. With utter disregard for his own personal danger Lieutenant McIlwain remained at the front caring for the wounded, without shelter, under direct enemy machine-gun fire, refusing to seek shelter until after all of the wounded had been evacuated.