Jefferson County Alabama Genealogy Trails A part of the Genealogy Trails History Group Jefferson County Awards of Distinguished Service Cross Second highest military award US Army First Awarded in 1918 US Navy First Awarded in 1917 US Air Force  First Awarded in 1962 Last Awarded 2006 + Indicates Posthumous Award +Mearl C. Alexander (Army serial No. 100241), corporal, Headquarters Company, 5th Regiment, United States Marine Corps. Killed in action at Chateau Thierry, France, June 6, 1918, he gave the supreme proof of that extraordinary heroism which will serve as an example of hitherto untried troops. Emergency address: Mrs. Anna S. Bean, sister, 27 Ellsworth Avenue, Sharon, Pa. Residence at enlistment: Birmingham, Ala. William T. Badham, second lieutenant, Air Service, observer, 91st Aero Squadron. For extraordinary heroism in action near Muzancy, France, October 23, 1918. This officer gave proof of exceptional bravery while on a photographic mission 25 kilometers within the enemy lines. His plane was attacked by a formation of 30 enemy aircraft; by skillful work with his machine gun he successfully repelled the attack and destroyed two German planes. At the same time he manipulated his camera and obtained photographs of great military value. Residence at appointment: 1221 Whittaker Street, Birmingham, Ala. Bernard H. Bolt, private, Company K, 28th Infantry. He was a member of a patrol consisting of an officer and four men, who with great daring entered a dangerous portion of the enemy trenches, where they surrounded a party nearly double their own strength, captured a greater number than themselves, drove off an enemy rescuing party, and made their way back to our lines with four prisoners, from whom valuable information was obtained. He died from wounds received in this expedition. Emergency address: Carl Bolt, father, 916 Seneca Street, South Bethlehem, Pa. Residence at enlistment: 1816 Fifth Avenue, Birmingham, Ala. Lloyd G. Bowers, first lieutenant, 3d Balloon Squadron, Air Service. For repeated acts of extraordinary heroism in action near Gironville and Chatel Chehery, France, August 14-29, and October 27, 1918. On August 14 this officer's balloon was attacked by four enemy chase machines, and though urged to jump he remained at is post and secured information of great value. On August 20 he was attacked by enemy planes using incendiary bullets, but would not leave his post before his balloon caught fire; he insisted at once upon reascending, although he knew that the enemy was constantly patrolling the air. On October 27, near Chatel Chehery, while regulating artillery fire, he was attacked by several enemy planes, and his balloon was perforated by incendiatry bullets. He remained in the air and carried out his observation. His extreme courage and devotion to duty furnished a splendid example to the officers and men of his command. Residence at appointment: 1140 South Thirteenth Street, Birmingham, Ala. Walter K. Chiles (Army serial No. 154525), sergeant, Company B, 1st Engineers, 1st Division. For extraordinary heroism in action near Soissons, France, July 20, 1918. Sergt. Chiles displayed exceptional courage, after being wounded, by remaining in command at his position under intense bombardment until he received a second severe wound. Residence at enlistment: 1219 Avenue H, Ensley, Ala. Will Clincy, private, first class, Company F, 366th Infantry. For extraordinary heroism in action near Frapelle, France, September 4, 1918. He showed exceptional bravery during and enemy raid. His teammate on an automatic rifle having been mortally wounded, and although he was himself severely wounded, he continued to serve his weapon alone until the raid was driven back. Residence at enlistment: 2616 Sixth Avenue, Birmingham, Ala. John E. Douglas, first lieutenant, 142d Infantry. For extraordinary heroism in action near St. Etienne, France, October 8, 1918. Lieut. Douglas was a member of a patrol consisting of himself, another officer, and three soldiers, wich came under fire from an enemy maching-gun nest. Leading the patrol forward by short rushes to within a short distance of the enemy position, he had his companions take cover, while he continued on alone in full view of the enemy, and by accurate fire from an automatic rifle at a range of 40 yards silenced the nest, capturing 20 men and 4 machine guns. Residence at appointment: Seventh Avenue, Bessemer, Ala. Robert M. Goodall, second lieutenant, 321st Machine Gun Battalion. For extraordinary heroism in action at Belair Farm, near Pont-A-Mousson, France, September 12, 1918. When our forces were attacked on the right flank at Belair Farm, Lieut. Goodall defended this flank alone with his pistol, preventing the enemy from coming up the trenches until the Infantry could form to resist the attack. Throughout a very trying and critical time this officer displayed utter disregard of personal danger, and by his remarkable personal bravery inspired confidence among his own men and cooperating troops. Residence at appointment: Glen Iris Park, Birmingham, Ala. Varner Hall, sergeant, Company D, 167th Infantry, 42d Division. On March 4, 1918, he conducted himself with marked bravery as a member of a patrol of 5 men, which, encountering an enemy patrol of 11 men, attacked vigorously, routed the enemy patrol, and took 2 prisoners. Residence at enlistment: Birmingham, Ala. Courtney S. Henley, captain, Company M, 327th Infantry, 82d Division. For extraordinary heroism in action north of the Sommerance-St. Juvin road on October 11, 1918. Capt. Henley led a party of three enlisted men in an attack on an enemy machine-gun position, which was doing considerable damage to our forces. Under intense hostile fire his attack drove the enemy gunners from the machine-gun nest. Residence at appointment: 901 South Nineteenth Street, Birmingham, Ala. John B. Hutto (Army serial No. 98617), sergeant, Headquarters Company, 167th Infantry. For extraordinary heroism in action near Beuvardes, France, July 29, 1918. Sergt. Hutto voluntarily left is 37-millimeter-gun section, which was attached to the reserve battalion, in order to accompany another section into action against the enemy machine-gun nests, which were sweeping our lines with heavy fire. When his platoon commander was wounded shortly afterwards he with another soldier made his way under heavy shell and machine-gun fire to where the officer lay, and after administering first aid carried him to a place of safety. Residence at enlistment: 2312 Bessemer Boulevard, Birmingham, Ala. Mortimer H. Jordan, captain, 167th Infantry. For extraordinary heroism in action near Souain, France, July 15, 1918. Seeing a private of his company wounded by shell fire, Capt. Jordan left his shelter and rushed to the aid of the wounded man. After administering first aid he carried him through the terrible bombardment a distance of 150 yards to a place of safety. Emergency address: Mrs. Mortimer H. Jordan, wife, 1449 Milner Crescent, Birmingham, Ala. Residence at appointment: 1449 Milner Crescent, Birmingham, Ala. Walter Rolls Lawson, captain, Air Service, observer, 91st Aero Squadron. For repeated acts of extraordinary heroism in action near St. Mihiel, France, July 30 and September 13, 1918. This officer showed rare courage on a reconnnoissance far over the enemy lines when he continued on his mission after being seriously wouded by antiaircraft fire. On September 13, although he was still convalescing from his wound, he volunteered for a particularly dangerous mission requiring a flight of 75 kilometers within the enemy lines. Because of weather conditions he was forced to fly at a dangerously low altitude and was repeatedly fired on by antiaircraft and machine guns. He successfully accomplished his mission and returned with important information. Residence at appointment: 7729 First Street, East Lake, Birmingham, Ala. +Arthur Mitchell, sergeant, Machine Gun Company, 30th Infantry. For extraordinary heroism in action near Mezy, France, July 15, 1918. After his gun had been destroyed by shell fire Sergt. Mitchell led his men through the enemy lines to our own. He braved the extreme shelling and machine-gunn fire by going to the aid of the wounded, and while withdrawing covered the retreat, effectively holding off the enemy. He was killed in action shortly afterwards. Emergency address: Mrs. A. L. Mitchell, wife, Sylacusa, Ala. Residence at enlistment: 1826 Third Avenue, Bessemer, Ala. Ravec Norris, major, 167th Infantry. For extraordinary heroism in action near Landres-et-St. Georges, France, October 14-16, 1918. During the attack on the Cote-de-Chatilion. Maj. Norris eprsonally led his battalion through the intense artillery and machine-gun fire. Although the attack led through a dense forest, he maneuvered his battalion with such success that unison was maintained at all times between the units of his command and with the units on the right and left flanks, and a successful attack made upon position considered almost impregnable. He was wounded during this attack. Residence at appointment: Birmingham, Ala. Mitchell J. Seale (Army serial No. 98756), sergeant, Company K, 167th Infantry, 42d Division. For extraordinary heroism in action northeast of Chateau-Thierry, France, July 26-27, 1918. Although seriously wounded during the advance near Croiz Rouge Farm, he nevertheless continued in the attack under heavy enemy fire from artillery and machine guns, thereby setting to the men of his command an example of exceptional bravery and devotion to duty. Residence at enlistment: Birmingham, Ala. Francis S. Sutherland, deceased, corporal, Company I, 321st Infantry. For extraordinary heroism in action in the St. Die sector, France, October 9, 1918. During a heavy bombardment he maintained liasion between his combat group and his company commander, crossing completely unprotected ground under terrific barrage, and supplying his group at the same time with much-needed ammunition. Emergency address: Mrs. Ada Sutherland, mother, 3500 Avenue D, Ensley, Ala. Residence at enlistment: 3500 Avenue D, Ensley, Ala. Homer Whited, corporal, Company D, 167th Infantry, 42d Division. He was a member of a patrol of 5 men, which on March 4, 1918, near Ancerviller, France, encountered an enemy patrol of 11 men, which it attacked and routed, taking 2 prisoners. Residence at enlistment: 1430 Dartmouth Avenue, Bessemer, Ala.     Transcribed by C. Anthony © Copyright 2009 Genealogy Trails