Two deeds which won this highest honor are the following in the words of the official War Department citation.

     "Charles W. Whittlesey, Major, 308th Infantry. For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action with the enemy northeast of Binarville, in the forest D'Argonne, France, 2-7 October, 1918. Although cut off for five days from the remainder of his division, Maj. Whittlesey and his command were thus cut off, and no rations or other supplies reached him, in spite of determined efforts which were made by his division. On the fourth day Maj. Whittlesey received from the enemy a written proposition to surrender, which he treated with contempt, although he was at that time out of rations and had suffered a loss of 50 per cent in killed and wounded of his command and was surrounded by the enemy."

     "Alvin C. York, Corporal, Company G, 328th Infantry. For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action with the enemy near Chatel-Chehery, France, 8 October 1918. After his platoon had suffered heavy casualties and three other non-commissioned officers had become casualties, Corporal York assumed command. Fearlessly leading seven men, he charged with great daring, a machine gun nest which was pouring deadly and incessant fire upon his platoon. In this heroic feat the machine gun nest was taken, together with 4 officers and 128 men and several guns."

     This is the exploit which Marshall Foch has termed the greatest single deed of heroism in the war.

     The Navy has a similar D. S. M., over the awards of which Secretary of the Navy Daniels and Admiral Sims had some controversy.

     General Pershing's citation for the D. S. M.: 

     "By direction of the President, the Distinguished Service Medal was awarded on 21 October 1918 to General John Joseph Pershing, Commanding General, American Expeditionary Forces, as a token of the gratitude of the American people to the commander of our armies in the field for his distinguished services, and in appreciation of the success which our armies have achieved under his leadership."

     The first citation of Lieut. Hunter of the Air Service, who wears four bronze oak leaf clusters on his D. S. C. ribbon, is given herewith:

     "Frank O'D. Hunter, first lieutenant, Air Service, pilot, 103rd Aero Squadron. For extra-ordinary heroism in action in the region of Ypres, Belgium, 22 June 1918, Lieutenant Hunter, while on patrol, alone attacked two enemy biplanes, destroying one and forcing the other to retire. In the course of the combat he was wounded in the forehead. Despite his injuries he succeeded in returning his damaged plane to his own aerodrome."

     A second citation of Julius Anderson, Private, Co. G., 109th Infantry:

     "For the following act of extraordinary heroism in action near Apremont, France, 7 October 1918, Pvt. Anderson is awarded a bronze oak leaf cluster to be worn with the Distinguished Service Cross: Having become separated from his company and wounded by a bullet which pierced his helmet, he advanced alone on a machine gun nest across an open field in broad daylight, killed the gunner and captured two of the crew, whom he pressed into the service of carrying the wounded."

     Several Citations have been won by Livingston County boys. The following is the citation awarded Lester Beattie of Howell:

     Wagoner Lester Beattie, Co. B, 4th M. G. Bn., for Distinguished and Exceptional Gallantry at Belleau Woods on 21 June 1918, in the operations of the American Expeditionary Forces:

     In testimony thereof and as an expression of appreciation of his valor, I award him this Citation. Awarded 25 June 1919.

     This campaign medal is the work of the sculptor, James E. Fraser. It bears on the obverse the winged figure of Victory, and on the reverse the names of the Allied Nations with the words, "The Great War for Civilization." (In these respects the French Medal is similar with the words, "La Grande Guerre pour la Civilisation"; but it will be awarded only to those who have served three months at the front.) The medal hangs from a double rainbow ribbon. This rainbow ribbon will be the common badge of service in the War with Germany among all the Allied Nations.

     On the ribbon are places bronze bars or "clasps" bearing the names of the battles in which the wearer participated. Clasps are awarded also for service in the lines in a defensive sector--no man may wear more than one of these--and for service outside the line of battle in France, Russia, Siberia and England. When the rainbow service ribbon is worn in place of the medal, the ribbon bears a small bronze star for each of the battle and defensive sector clasps. No star is worn for service behind the lines.

     The War Department has announced the following as the major engagements for which battle clasps are awarded: Cambrai, 12 May-4Dec, 1917; Somme Defensive, 21 March-6 April, 1918; Lys Defensive, 9-27 April 1918; Aisne Defensive, 27 May-5 June; Montdidier-Noyon Defensive, 9-13 June; Champagne-Marne Defensive, 15-18 July; Aisne-Marne Offensive, 18 July-6 August; Somme Offensive, 8 Aug-11 Nov.; Oise-Aisne Offensive, 18 Aug-11 Nov.; Ypres-Lys Offensive, 19 Aug-11 Nov.; St. Mihiel Offensive, 12-16 Sept; Meuse-Argonne Offensive, 26 Sept-11 Nov; Vottorio-Veneto Offensive, Italy, 24 Oct-4 Nov.