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Pre-WW1
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NOTES:
During the war with Mexico (May 13, 1846 to May 30, 1848) Congress established the Certificate of Merit as a means of recognizing "any private soldier who has distinguished himself by gallantry performed in the presence of the enemy." During the period a total of 539 Certificates of Merit were approved. Following the war it was generally assumed that the Certificate of Merit was ONLY for Mexican War service, and there remained no means of recognizing individual soldiers for their valorous or distinguished acts until the creation of the Medal of Honor during the Civil War.Following the Civil War, from the Period June 22, 1874 through Feb. 10, 1892, Certificates of Merit were again approved to recognize extraordinary gallantry by a private soldier in the presence of the enemy. During this period a total of 462 Certificates of Merit were awarded for combat actions.
From Feb. 11, 1892 until July 9, 1918, changing criteria allowed for award of Certificates of Merit for "distinguished service whether in action or otherwise, of valuable character to the United States, as, for example, extraordinary exertion in the preservation of human life, or in the preservation of public property, or rescuing public property from destruction by fire or other-wise, or any hazardous service by which the Government is saved loss in men and material." Many of the 205 Certificates of Merit awarded under this new criteria were awarded for combat actions in the Spanish-American War, Philippine Insurrection, and the Boxer Rebellion (China). Others were issued for a variety of life-saving or other admirable actions. (One must keep in mind that during this same period the Navy awarded Medals of Honor for non-combat acts of life-saving. For members of the U.S. Army, the Certificate of Merit was the ONLY means of recognizing such heroic acts, as the Army Medal of Honor was restricted to combat actions.)
In 1918 Congress authorized the first Pyramid of Honor, establishing a series of medals lower in precedence than the Medal of Honor to provide a better means of recognizing individual soldiers. Among the awards approved were the Distinguished Service Cross, the Distinguished Service Medal, and the Citation Star (which became the Silver Star). With the new Pyramid of Honor, the Certificate of Merit was disestablished by Act of Congress on July 9, 1918. At the same time, in legislation authorizing the Distinguished Service Medal, Congress directed that the "Distinguished Service Medal also be issued to all enlisted men of the Army to whom the certificate of merit has been granted... in lieu of such certificates of merit, and after the passage of this act the award of the certificate of merit for distinguished service shall cease...." As a result, a total of 271 soldiers and veterans who had previously received Certificates of Merit were awarded the D.S.M. in lieu of their Certificate of Merit.
By the Act of Congress on March 5, 1934, it was directed that: "The Distinguished Service Cross shall be issued to all enlisted men of the Army to whom the certificate of merit was issued" and that "those persons who have heretofore received the Distinguished Service Medal shall be issued the Distinguished Service Cross provided the Distinguished Service Medal is first surrendered to the War Department." Only 54 recipients of the Certificate of Merit who had seen their award upgraded to the D.S.M. applied for this final upgrade to the Distinguished Service Cross. Twenty-one other veterans whose application for the D.S.M. in lieu of the Certificate of Merit had not yet been finalized, also received the D.S.C. instead. These 75 men comprise all of the Pre-WWI recipients of the D.S.C. as a result of upgrades from either the Certificate of Merit, or from the Distinguished Service Medal that had been previously issued in lieu of the Certificate of Merit.
Added to these seventy-five recipients are the names of 5 soldiers who were awarded D.S.C.s for their actions in the Mexican Border Wars (1915-1918). Twenty soldiers who had distinguished themselves in the Philippine Insurrection and two who had distinguished themselves in China but who had not previously been awarded the Certificate of Merit, were also awarded D.S.C.s under General Orders. These comprise the 132 total recipients of the Distinguished Service Cross for actions prior to World War I.
Sergeant Major John Young (by date of action) became the first DOUBLE DSC recipient, earning two before World War I began.
Second Lieutenant Frank Bolles earned a DSC in the Philippine Insurrection, and a second DSC in WWI.
Major James F. Bell (MOH-Philippines) became the first Medal of Honor recipient to also earn a DSC (Spanish-American War).
Corporal Arthur Ferguson and Second Lieutenant Gordon Johnston each earned BOTH a Medal of Honor and a Distinguished Service Cross during the Philippine Insurrection.
TWO of the 132 Pre-WWI Distinguished Service Crosses were presented posthumously.
Alphabetical Roster of Recipients
By War or Period
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Name |
Rank |
Date of Act |
Notes |
Battle-Incident |
General Orders |
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Indian Campaigns (1861-1898) - 7 Awards |
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Arrington, George |
Private |
May 11, 1889 |
Infantry |
Arizona |
In Lieu of CM/DSM |
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Braden, Charles |
2nd Lt. |
Aug. 11, 1873 |
Cavalry |
Big Horn River , MT |
GO 7, W.D., 1925 |
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*Capron, Harry W. |
Corporal |
Dec. 29, 1890 |
Cavalry |
Wounded Knee Creek , SD |
In Lieu of CM/DSM |
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*Hoff, John Van R. |
Captain |
Dec. 29, 1890 |
Asst. Surgeon |
Wounded Knee , SD |
GO 3, W.D., 1925 |
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Hubbard, John C. |
Private |
April 28, 1882 |
Cavalry |
Huachuca Mtns , AZ |
In Lieu of CM/DSM |
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Kelly, Thomas |
1st Sgt. |
Oct. 5 - 6, 1898 |
Infantry |
Leech Lake , MN |
GO 14, W.D., 1928 |
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Kress, John A. |
Captain |
July 8, 1878 |
Ordnance |
Umatilla, OR |
GO 7, W.D., 1925 |
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Interim (1871-1899) - 1 Award |
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1st Award |
Sergeant Major |
Nov. 19, 1896 |
Infantry |
Fort Snelling , MN |
In Lieu of CM/DSM |
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Spanish American War (1898) - 30 Awards |
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Abele, Joseph E. |
Private |
July 1, 1898 |
Infantry |
El Caney, Cuba |
In Lieu of CM/DSM |
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Allen, James |
Lt. Colonel |
June 2 - 5, 1898 |
Signal Corps |
Santiago , Cuba |
GO 14, W.D., 1925 |
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Arundell, Daniel |
1st Sgt |
July 1, 1898 |
Infantry |
El Caney, Cuba |
In Lieu of CM/DSM |
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Bell, James Franklin |
Major |
Aug. 10, 1898 |
Engineer |
Manila |
GO 3, W.D., 1925 |
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Binckli, Frederic |
Private |
July 1, 1898 |
Infantry |
Santiago , Cuba |
In Lieu of CM/DSM |
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Bjornstad, Alfred W. |
Captain |
Aug. 13, 1898 |
Infantry |
Manila |
GO 126, W.D., 1919 |
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Byram, George L. |
1st Lt. |
June 24, 1898 |
Cavalry |
Las Guasimas , Cuba |
GO 71, W.D., 1919 |
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Conner, Lawrence B. |
Private |
Aug. 2, 1898 |
Infantry |
Manila |
In Lieu of CM/DSM |
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Cook, William C. |
Private |
July 1, 1898 |
Infantry |
Santiago , Cuba |
In Lieu of CM/DSM |
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Cooke, James H. |
Sergeant |
July 2, 1898 |
Infantry |
Santiago , Cuba |
GO 32, W.D., 1919 |
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Gould, Clarence S. |
1st Sgt. |
July 1, 1898 |
Cavalry |
Santiago , Cuba |
In Lieu of CM/DSM |
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Knox, Thomas T. |
Captain |
June 24, 1898 |
Cavalry |
Las Guasimas , Cuba |
GO 34, W.D., 1924 |
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March, Peyton C. |
1st Lt. |
Aug. 13, 1898 |
Artillery |
Manila |
GO 39, W.D., 1920 |
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Marsh, Robert J. |
Musician |
July 1, 1898 |
Infantry |
Santiago , Cuba |
In Lieu of CM/DSM |
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McMurphy, Frank P. |
Corporal |
July 1, 1898 |
Infantry |
El Caney, Cuba |
In Lieu of CM/DSM |
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Means, Rice W. |
2nd Lt. |
Aug. 9 & 10, 1898 |
Infantry |
Manila |
GO 3, W.D., 1925 |
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Muir, Charles H. |
1st Lt. |
July 2, 1898 |
Infantry |
Santiago , Cuba |
GO 10, W.D., 1924 |
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Nichols, Edward T. |
1st Sgt. |
July 1, 1898 |
Infantry |
Santiago , Cuba |
In Lieu of CM/DSM |
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O'Reilly, James F. |
Corporal |
July 18, 1898 |
Infantry |
Santiago , Cuba |
In Lieu of CM/DSM |
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O'Rourke, John |
1st Sgt. |
July 1, 1898 |
Infantry |
El Caney, Cuba |
In Lieu of CM/DSM |
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Ravenstine, George O. |
Sergeant |
July 1, 1898 |
Cavalry |
Santiago , Cuba |
In Lieu of CM/DSM |
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Rowan, Andrew S. |
Captain |
May 1898 |
Infantry |
Cuba |
GO 38, W.D., 1922 |
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Shaffer, Samuel W. |
Sergeant Major |
July 1, 1898 |
Infantry |
El Caney, Cuba |
In Lieu of CM/DSM |
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Sillman, Robert H. |
Sergeant |
Aug. 13, 1898 |
Artillery |
Manila |
GO 116, W.D., 1919 |
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Smith, Jacob C. |
Saddler Sgt. |
July 1, 1898 |
Cavalry |
San Juan , Cuba |
GO 14, W.D., 1925 |
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Teter, Guy E. |
Private |
July 1, 1898 |
Infantry |
El Caney, Cuba |
In Lieu of CM/DSM |
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Thornton, William |
Corporal |
July 1, 1898 |
Infantry |
Santiago , Cuba |
In Lieu of CM/DSM |
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Villumsen, Hans |
Sergeant |
July 1, 1898 |
Infantry |
Santiago , Cuba |
In Lieu of CM/DSM |
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Whitney, Henry H. |
Captain |
May 1898 |
Infantry |
Puerto Rico |
GO 19, W.D., 1922 |
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2d Award |
Sgt. Maj. |
July 1, 1898 |
Infantry |
El Caney, Cuba |
In Lieu of CM/DSM |
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Philippine Insurrection (1899-1913) - 68 Awards |
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Aloe, Alfred |
1st Lt. |
Sept. 22, 1900 |
Infantry |
Mozambique, PI |
GO 10, W.D., 1924 |
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Anderson, Almer A. |
Trumpeter |
Nov. 9, 1912 |
Cavalry |
Tagnig River, PI |
In Lieu of CM/DSM |
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Andrews, Charles F. |
2nd Lt. |
March 11, 1900 |
Infantry |
, PI |
GO 13, W.D., 1924 |
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Barnes, Walter K. |
Medic |
June 3, 1900 |
Medical Corps |
Bulacan, PI |
In Lieu of CM/DSM |
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Bassett, Daniel S. |
Private |
June 22, 1899 |
Infantry |
San Felipe Church, PI |
In Lieu of CM/DSM |
|
1st Award |
2nd Lt. |
Feb. 12, 1899 |
Infantry |
Panay, PI |
GO 14, W.D., 1923 |
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Boyington, John E. |
Private |
Oct. 15, 1900 |
Infantry |
, PI |
In Lieu of CM/DSM |
|
*Brickey, Wiley J. |
1st Sgt. |
Feb. 14, 1900 |
Infantry |
Luzon, PI |
In Lieu of CM/DSM |
|
Carner, George W. |
Musician |
Sept. 5, 1901 |
Infantry |
Borac River, PI |
In Lieu of CM/DSM |
|
Cody, Myron |
Private |
March 9, 1901 |
Infantry |
Corkscrew Hill, PI |
In Lieu of CM/DSM |
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Connolly, Patrick A. |
1st Lt. |
Dec. 23, 1901 |
Infantry |
Luzon, PI |
GO 17, W.D., 1924 |
|
Copeland, Samuel |
Private |
Dec. 7, 1899 |
Infantry |
Luzon, PI |
GO 3, W.D., 1925 |
|
Coston, Tony |
Private |
April 9, 1901 |
Infantry |
Leyte, PI |
GO 21, W.D., 1925 |
|
Davidson, Alexander H. |
1st Lt. |
Oct. 17, 1899 |
Infantry |
Luzon, PI |
GO 27, W.D., 1919 |
|
Drake, Charles B. |
Captain |
Feb. 14, 1904 |
Cavalry |
Jolo, PI |
GO 126, W.D., 1919 |
|
Ferguson, Arthur
M. |
Corporal |
April 26, 1899 |
Infantry |
Calumpit |
GO 126, W.D., 1919 |
|
Fisher, Ronald E. |
2nd Lt. |
May 3, 1905 |
Cavalry |
PI |
GO 3, W.D., 1922 |
|
Garrard, Floyd P. |
Sergeant |
June 27, 1910 |
Cavalry |
Mindanao, PI |
In Lieu of CM/DSM |
|
Gould, Fred H. |
Corporal |
Jan. & Feb., 1902 |
Infantry |
Samar, PI |
In Lieu of CM/DSM |
|
Graham, Hugh A. |
Private |
Oct. 11, 1899 |
Cavalry |
Pampanga River, PI |
In Lieu of CM/DSM |
|
Harris, Henry L., Jr. |
1st Lt. |
May 3, 1905 |
Infantry |
Jolo, PI |
GO 126, W.D., 1919 |
|
Harrison, Fred A. |
Private |
Dec. 31, 1901 |
Cavalry |
Cavite Province, PI |
In Lieu of CM/DSM |
|
Harty, Bernard A. |
Private |
July 4, 1909 |
Cavalry |
Patian Island, PI |
GO 14, W.D., 1925 |
|
Hennecke, Frederick |
Sergeant |
Oct. 11, 1899 |
Infantry |
Letye, PI |
In Lieu of CM/DSM |
|
Herter, Otto |
Private |
March 27, 1903 |
Medical Corps |
Rizal, PI |
In Lieu of CM/DSM |
|
Hobbs, Horace P. |
1st Lt. |
May 5, 1905 |
Infantry |
Jolo, PI |
GO 4, W.D., 1923 |
|
Humphrey, Charles F., Jr. |
1st Lt. |
Aug. 16, 1899 |
Infantry |
Luzon, PI |
GO 126, W.D., 1919 |
|
Jeffers, Solomon L. |
1st Lt. |
Jan. 25, 1900 |
Infantry |
Luzon, PI |
GO 7, W.D., 1925 |
|
Johnston, Gordon |
2nd Lt. |
Feb. 1, 1900 |
Infantry |
Leyte, PI |
GO 13, W.D., 1924 |
|
Jordan, Joseph E. |
Private |
March 26, 1900 |
Infantry |
Calbayog, PI |
In Lieu of CM/DSM |
|
Keeney, Armar D. |
Private |
Sept. 10, 1907 |
Infantry |
Panay, PI |
In Lieu of CM/DSM |
|
King, Edward L. |
Captain |
Oct. 6, 1899 |
Cavalry |
Cavite Province, PI |
GO 126, W.D., 1919 |
|
Kreger, Edward A. |
Captain |
March 10, 1900 |
Infantry |
Los Banos, PI |
GO 108, W.D., 1919 |
|
Leonard, Charles L. |
Medic |
April 8, 1903 |
Medical Corps |
Mindanao, PI |
In Lieu of CM/DSM |
|
Lewis, Converse R. |
2nd Lt. |
June 14, 1904 |
Infantry |
Mindanao, PI |
GO 111, W.D., 1919 |
|
Lewis, William F. |
Captain |
Jan. 7, 1905 |
Medical Corps |
Jolo, PI |
GO 4, W.D., 1923 |
|
Mahoney, Denis |
Private |
Aug. 16, 1899 |
Infantry |
Guagua, PI |
In Lieu of CM/DSM |
|
McDonald, Wilbert L. |
Sergeant |
March 7, 1906 |
Infantry |
Jolo, PI |
In Lieu of CM/DSM |
|
McMaster, George H. |
1st Lt. |
Dec. 7, 1899 |
Infantry |
PI |
GO 43, W.D., 1922 |
|
Miles, Perry L. |
1st Lt. |
Feb. 5, 1899 |
Infantry |
Manila |
GO 10, W.D., 1924 |
|
Miller, Claude H. |
1st Lt. |
Dec. 7, 1899 |
Infantry |
Luzon, PI |
GO 3, W.D., 1925 |
|
Monroe, Edward M. |
Private |
Dec. 7, 1899 |
Infantry |
Luzon, PI |
GO 3, W.D., 1925 |
|
Moreland, George |
Private |
Oct. 30, 1902 |
Infantry |
Guimaras, PI |
In Lieu of CM/DSM |
|
Morrow, Bishop L. |
Sergeant |
May 1, 1903 |
Infantry |
Lake Lanao, PI |
In Lieu of CM/DSM |
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Myers, Leo A. |
Private |
July 2, 1909 |
Cavalry |
Patian Island, PI |
In Lieu of CM/DSM |
|
O'Brien, James J. |
Private |
Feb. 2, 1901 |
Infantry |
Batioto, PI |
In Lieu of CM/DSM |
|
Odin, Arthur S. |
Private |
June 13, 1899 |
Infantry |
Zapote River |
In Lieu of CM/DSM |
|
Olson, Roy C. |
Corporal |
March 7, 1906 |
Infantry |
Mt. Bud-Dajo, PI |
In Lieu of CM/DSM |
|
Parrott, Roger S. |
2nd Lt. |
July 4, 1909 |
Artillery |
Patian Island, PI |
GO 13, W.D., 1924 |
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Pershing, John J. |
B. Gen. |
June 15, 1913 |
Infantry |
Jolo, PI |
GO Supplement, 1941 |
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Philbin, Patrick |
Sergeant |
Dec. 31, 1900 |
Infantry |
San Juan, PI |
In Lieu of CM/DSM |
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Remington, Philip |
2nd Lt. |
Oct. 22, 1905 |
Infantry |
Mindanao, PI |
GO 4, W.D., 1923 |
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Rhodes, Charles D. |
Captain |
Dec. 31, 1901 |
Cavalry |
Luzon, PI |
GO 126, W.D., 1919 |
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Rice, George D. |
Chaplain |
May 2, 1902 |
Chaplain |
Mindanao, PI |
GO 14, W.D., 1925 |
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Rings, William |
Cook |
March 26, 1900 |
Infantry |
Analason Mtns., PI |
In Lieu of CM/DSM |
|
Sheen, Henry H. |
Captain |
Aug. 19, 1900 |
Infantry |
Dasmarinas, PI |
GO 118, W.D., 1919 |
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Smith, Robert H. |
Private |
March 26, 1900 |
Infantry |
Analason Mtns., PI |
In Lieu of CM/DSM |
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Staples, Frank |
Private |
May 4, 1903 |
Infantry |
Pitacus, PI |
In Lieu of CM/DSM |
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Swan, Frank S. |
Corporal |
July 19, 1899 |
Infantry |
Negros, PI |
In Lieu of CM/DSM |
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Treadway, Samuel |
Corporal |
April 9, 1904 |
Infantry |
Mindanao, PI |
In Lieu of CM/DSM |
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Van Way, Charles W. |
Captain |
Nov. 2, 1900 |
Infantry |
Luzon, PI |
GO 44, W.D., 1919 |
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Wendell, William |
Sergeant |
July 4, 1909 |
Cavalry |
Patian Island, PI |
GO 14, W.D., 1925 |
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Whelan, John |
Sergeant |
May 2, 1902 |
Infantry |
Bayang, PI |
In Lieu of CM/DSM |
|
Willford, James W. |
Sergeant |
Sept. 1, 1901 |
Infantry |
Samar, PI |
In Lieu of CM/DSM |
|
Williams, Gus J. |
Private |
Dec. 7, 1899 |
Invantry |
Luzon, PI |
GO 3, W.D., 1925 |
|
Woods, George |
Corporal |
May 2, 1902 |
Infantry |
Bayang, PI |
In Lieu of CM/DSM |
|
Woods, Walter W. |
Private |
Feb. 13, 1904 |
Infantry |
Mindanao, PI |
In Lieu of CM/DSM |
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Zink, Edward J. |
QM Sgt |
Jan. 22, 1904 |
Infantry |
Mindanao, PI |
In Lieu of CM/DSM |
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China Boxer Rebellion (1900) - 6 Awards |
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Abbott, George F. |
Corporal |
July 13, 1900 |
Infantry |
China |
In Lieu of CM/DSM |
|
Corning, John A. |
Private |
Sept. 4, 1900 |
Cavalry |
Chang Ping Chow, China |
In Lieu of CM/DSM |
|
Davis, Albert |
Sergeant |
July 13, 1900 |
Infantry |
Tientsin, China |
In Lieu of CM/DSM |
|
Frazier, Joseph |
1st Lt. |
July 13, 1900 |
Infantry |
Tientsin |
GO 3, W. D., 1925 |
|
Klein, Max |
Private |
July 13, 1900 |
Infantry |
Tientsin, China |
In Lieu of CM/DSM |
|
Waldron, William H. |
2nd Lt. |
July 13, 1900 |
Infantry |
Tientsin, China |
GO 43, W.D., 1922 |
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Interim (1899-1910) - 8 Awards |
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Broadus, Lewis |
1st Sgt. |
July 3, 1906 |
Infantry |
Fort Niobrara, NE |
In Lieu of CM/DSM |
|
Bryan, William |
Sergeant |
July 21, 1910 |
Artillery |
Fort Monroe, VA |
In Lieu of CM/DSM |
|
Hickey, Edward J. |
Private |
Nov. 28, 1904 |
Quartermaster |
West Point, NY |
In Lieu of CM/DSM |
|
Kahn, Joseph F. |
Private |
July 12, 1904 |
Infantry |
Fort Liscum, AK |
In Lieu of CM/DSM |
|
Koenig, Edward |
Private |
July 13, 1905 |
Infantry |
Governor's Island, NY |
In Lieu of CM/DSM |
|
McDowell, Winchester |
Private |
Dec. 8, 1905 |
Infantry |
Lake Champlain, NY |
In Lieu of CM/DSM |
|
Metcalf, Charles K. |
Medic |
Sept. 8, 1900 |
Medical Corps |
Galveston, TX |
In Lieu of CM/DSM |
|
Ohmer, Charles |
Private |
Feb. 28, 1899 |
Infantry |
Adjuntas, PR |
In Lieu of CM/DSM |
|
Mexican Border Wars (1915-1918) - 5 Awards |
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|
Castleman, James P. |
1st Lt. |
March 9, 1916 |
Cavalry |
Mexican Border |
GO 2, W.D., 1920 |
|
Fannin, Oliver W. |
1st Lt. |
Aug. 27, 1918 |
Infantry |
Nogales, AZ |
GO 44, W.D., 1919 |
|
Lavery, James Flavian |
PFC |
Aug. 27, 1918 |
Quartermaster |
Nogales, AZ |
GO 9, W.D., 1923 |
|
Smith, Herbert Reeves |
SFC |
Oct. 21, 1915 |
Signal Corps |
Ojo de Agua, TX |
GO 10, W.D., 1924 |
|
Tompkins, Frank |
Major |
March 9, 1916 |
Cavalry |
Columbus, NM |
GO 8, W.D., 1934 |
|
Interim (1910-1917) - 7 Awards |
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|
Bowden, William H. |
Corporal |
June 25, 1912 |
Infantry |
Wisconsin River, WI |
In Lieu of CM/DSM |
|
Davis, Harvey S. |
Sergeant |
Aug. 19, 1912 |
MOS |
Fort Monroe, VA |
In Lieu of CM/DSM |
|
Keister, Guy A. |
Private |
May 7, 1911 |
Infantry |
Lakeside, CA |
In Lieu of CM/DSM |
|
Olsen, Stanley R. |
PFC |
May 17, 1916 |
Cavalry |
Chihuahua, Mexico |
In Lieu of CM/DSM |
|
Richardson, Clarence M. |
Sergeant |
Nov. 25, 1917 |
Artillery |
Fort Washington, MD |
In Lieu of CM/DSM |
|
Schaus, Walter C. |
Private |
Aug. 27, 1915 |
Artillery |
San Francisco, CA |
In Lieu of CM/DSM |
|
Vandervert, Claude R. |
Sergeant |
Sept. 28, 1914 |
Infantry |
Vera Cruz, Mexico |
In Lieu of CM/DSM |
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Pre-WWI D.S.C. Recipients |
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