Allegheny County, Pennsylvania Congressional Medal of Honor

Allegheny County World War I

Awards of Distinguished Service Cross Medal

US Army
First Awarded in 1918

US Air Force
First Awarded in 1962
Last Awarded 2006

US Navy
First Awarded in 1917

+ Indicates Posthumous Award

+William Chalmers Acheson, second lieutenant, 320th Machine Gun Battalion. For extraordinary heroism in action near St. Juvia, France, October 14, 1918. Seeing a flank position left exposed by the nonarrival of an infantry regiment. Lieut. Acheson promptly moved his four guns to the position and held off a strong attack by the enemy. During the action 30 prisoners were taken, but nearly all his platoon had been killed or wounded. Lieut. Acheson personally operted a gun, and, although wounded, poured a most effective fire in the ranks of the enemy, continuing until he died from loss of blood. Emergency address: T. H. Acheson, father, 117 West McIntyre Avenue, Northside, Pittsburgh, Pa. Residence at appointment: 117 West McIntyre Avenue, Northside, Pittsburgh, Pa.

Jiaozef Adamski, corporal, Company C, 320th Infantry. For extraordinary heroism in action near Bois des Ogons, France, October 9, 1918. Rushing ahead of his advancing lines, exposed to heavy enemy fire, Corpl. Adamski discovered a trail which was not being covered by enemy fire and through which men could pass in safety. He returned with this valuable information to his company commander. His action permitting his company to safety pass through the zone. Residence at enlistment: 3549 Mulberry Alley, Pittsburgh, Pa.

Frank E. Andrea, sergeant, Company G, 111th Infantry. For extraordinary heroism in action near Crezancy, France, July 16, 1918. Sergt. Andrea was told by a runner that an enemy patrol had captured two ambulances containing American wounded on the road east of this position. He organized a relief party, personally commanded it, drove the enemy to rout, recovered the ambulance and the wounded men, and brought them back to our lines. Emergency address: Charles A. Andrea, father, 709 Iowa Street, Sioux City, Iowa. Residence at enlistment: Pittsburgh, Pa.

Edward Bann, private. Company M, 318th Infantry. For extraordinary heroism in action in the Bois des Ogons, France, October 4, 1918. He was acting as stretcher bearer with another soldier, who was shot by a sniper. Going out under fire from the sniper, he captured the latter with the aid of another man. While taking his prisoner to the rear he found a wounded man, whom he carried to the aid station under heavy fire while his companion went on with the prisoner. Upon returning from the aid station he continued his work of rescuing the wounded. Residence at enlistment: 511 Sturgeon Street, Pittsburgh, Pa.

Cedric Charles Benz, first lieutenant, 111th Infantry. While trying to assist a wounded companion in the attack on Hill 204, west of Chateau-Thierry, France, July 1, 1918, he discovered a party of Germans, and with the aid of two wounded soldiers boldly rushed them and made 38 prisoners. Residence at appointment: 124 North Linden Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pa.

Frederick F. Blume, corporal, Medical Corps, United States Navy, attached to 6th Regiment, United States Marine Corps. For extraordinary heroism in the Bois de Belleau, France, June 9-10 and 25, 1918. On two successive days the regimental aid station in which he was working was struck by heavy shells and in each case demolished. Ten men were killed and a number of wounded were badly hurt by falling timbers and stone. Under these harassing conditions this officer continued without cessation his treatment of the wounded, superintending their evacuation, and setting an inspiring example of heroism to the officers and men serving against enemy machine-gun positions in the Bois de Belleau, establishing advanced dressing stations under continuous shell fire. Residence at appointment: St. Clair, Pa.

Hugh F. Brennan, (Army serial No. 1898016), sergeant, Company K 328th Infantry. For extraordinary heroism in action Fieville, France, October 8-13, 1918. After being severely wounded in the shoulder by a machine-gun bullet, Sergt. Brennan refused to be evacuated but remained in command of his company, to which he had succeeded after all the officers had become casualties. For four days he led his men in the operationis against the enemy, though he was suffering severely, until his wound became infected, and he was evacuated against his protest. Residence at enlistment: 1310 Goebel Street, North Side, Pittsburgh, Pa.

Robert S. Cain, captain, 111th Infantry. For extraordinary heroism in action near Fismette, France, August 10-12, 1918. Armed with an automatic rifle, he personally led the advance elements of the line in driving the enemy from the forest north of the Vesle River, thereby maintaining liaison at great personal risks. Residence at appointment: 4063 Pennsylvania Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pa.

George S. Caldwell, private, Company G, 28th Infantry. For extraordinary heroism in action near Soissons, France, July 18, 1918. In order to stop artillery fire, which was causing heavy losses in our rands, he, with another soldier, rushed 300 yards to the front, attacked a machine-gun strong point and a 77-millimeter artillery gun, captured the position and the gun, killed 2, and captured 13 of the enemy. Residence at enlistment: 900 North Evans Avenue, McKeesport, Pa.

Franklin W. Carter, second lieutenant, Machine Gun Company, 165th Infantry. For extraordinary heroism in action near Villers-sur-Fere, France. July 28, 1918. When all the men of his platoon had become casualities he operated the one remaining machine gun with the aid of two volunteers from a line company. Even after he himself had been severely wounded, he remained at his post until the infantry, having effected a crossing of the Oureq, were firmly established. Refusing assistance to the dressing station, he tried to crawl back, but dropped exhausted. Residence at appointment: Clover Club, Pittsburgh, Pa.

Thomas Cavanaugh, sergeant, Company D, 111th Infantry. For extraordinary heroism in action at Fismette, France, August 11-12, 1918. After he had been wounded by shrapnel he refused to go to the rear, but directed the operations of his platoon in resisting enemy attacks for an hour and a half, when he finally collapsed. The following day he returned and unhesitatingly selected a position of great danger to himself in order to direct machine-gun fire upon enemy snipers. By his courageous exposure he thus made possible the evacuation of 25 wounded man across an exposed area over the Vesle River. Residence at enlistment: 210 Brownsville Road, Pittsburgh, Pa.

Frank J. Cohen, (Army serial No. 1249854), private, Headquarters Detachment, 107th Field Artillery. For Extraordinary heroism in action near Basileux, France, September 5, 1918. On duty with an officer at an observation post far in advance of the infantry line, he exposed himself to heavy machine-gun fire to obtain stretcher and bandages when the officer was hit by a machine-gun bullet. The officer's wound having proved fatal, Pvt. Cohen, the following day, volunteered to go out and assist in bringing back the body, being constantly subjected to enemy fire. Residence at enlistment: 76 Arthur Street, Pittsburgh, Pa.

+Raymond P. Cronin, sergeant, 49th Company, 5th Regiment, United States Marine Corps; +Arthur F. Ware, sergeant, sergeant, 49th Company, 5th Regiment, United States Marine Corps. In the vicinity of Chateau-Thierry, France, on June 6, 1918, under heavy machine-gun fire, they attempted to establish liaison with an adjoining French unit, during which they were killed. Emergency address: Mrs. Edna E. Cronin, mother, 1503 Berkshire Street, Pittsburgh, Pa. Residence at enlistment: 1503 Berkshire Street, Pittsburgh, Pa.

Jay Dunlap, (Army serial No. 1245684), corporal, Company L, 111th Infantry. For extraordinary heroism in action in the Argonne Forest, France, October 1, 1918. Knowing that two men were killed in attempting to rescue a wounded comrade who was lying far in front of the line, Corpl. Dunlap volunteered and attempted the rescue. Despite the severe fire directed at this point, he successfully accomplished his mission. Residence at enlistment: 352 Dixon Avenue, East Pittsburgh, Pa.

+Frederick A. Egler, sergeant, Company M, 320th Infantry. For extraordinary heroism in action near Cunel, France, October 11, 1918. Advancing alone far beyond his lines. Sergt. Egler encountered and attacked an enemy machine-gun emplacement, killing an officer and capturing two guns, causing the enemy about eight in number, to flee in disorder. During the action on November 1, 1918. Sergt. Egler received wounds which caused his death. Emergency address: Mrs. C. Lanz, mother 2313 Sierra Street, Pittsburgh, Pa. Residence at enlistment: 2313 Sierra Street, Pittsburgh, Pa.

Mr. William R. Farmer, secretary, Y.M.C.A., attached to 3d Battalion, 5th Regiment, United States Marine Corps, 2d Division. For extraordinary heroism in action near Blanc Mont Ridge, France, October 4, 1918. Secretary Farmer voluntarily established an advanced dressing station under enemy machine-gun and artillery fire. He continued to render first aid until forced back by a threatened counterattack, at which time he personally assisted two seriously wounded men to the first-aid station, then returning to the line and remaining with the unit until it was relieved. Address: 1020 Western Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pa.

+Robert Finnegan, corporal, Company A, 28th Infantry. On May 27-28, 1918, at Cantigny, France, although mortally wounded he concealed that fact, encouraged his men by his example of fortitude, and continued to fire his automatic rifle until he became exhausted. Emergency address: Hugh Finnegan, father, 1712 Davis Street, Pittsburgh, Pa. Residence at enlistment: 1712 Davis Street, Pittsburgh, Pa.

+Anthony Fiorentino, (Army serial No. 1241719), private, Company L, 110th Infantry, 28th Division. For extraordinary heroism in action near Magneux, France, August 25, 1918. Volunteering to locate an enemy machine-gun nest which was inflicting heavy casualities on our forces, Pvt. Fiorentino advanced alone and by drawing the enemy fire enabled his company to destroy the nest and continue the advance. In exposing himself to the hostile fire, this gallant soldier was fatally wounded and died on the field shortly afterwards. Emergency address: Mrs. Rose Fiorentino, mother, 7 Corrie Street, Rankin, Pa. Residence at enlistment: 7 Corrie Street, Rankin, Pa.

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