SPENCE, Pvt. William B. ~ Distinguished Service Cross, WWI

SPENCE, ANDERSON

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 7/24/2015 at 14:18:16

The Leon Reporter
Leon, Decatur County, Iowa
Thursday, April 03, 1919, Page 1

Another Decatur County Soldier Awarded
the Distinguished Service Cross.

Private William B. Spence, of Garden Grove, who when drafted was employed as linotype operator at the Journal office in Leon, has been awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, for bravery in action, the highest honor which the United States can confer on a soldier. A short time ago Capt. Peterson, of Lamoni, was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for bravery in action, and now we have just a buck private, who has won this coveted honor. Will Spence is a quiet unassuming young man, but he was right there with the goods when called upon. The following letter received by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Sam Spence tells of what he is doing over there, and also a copy of the official order conferring the Distinguished Service Cross upon him:

France, March 1, 1919.
Dear Folks at Home: Will try and drop you a few lines this afternoon as I am off duty. So far we have not made any more moves any time now. We have been at this camp a ay over three weeks and a day has been set several times for our moving, but when the day comes orders are changed.

I saw by the Stars and Stripes last night that there would be six divisions go home in March. The 27th division will go before us and then we will go. According to that we will probably said between the 6th and the 12th of this month.

I am getting anxious to get home. Have been in the army now a few days over 12 months and over nine of the twelve, I have spent in France. Hope that this letter finds you all well. I am feeling fine myself. I had a bad cold the latter part of the week but have gotten over that. We have had some fine weather lately. Have had no cold weather to speak of and no snow at all.

I am going to send you a little paper that will prove to you that I have been doing "my bit" over here. I have not got my cross yet, but will get it in a few days. We had several in our company who got crosses. The whole 30th division is in camp here now. I was over to the 119th Inf. the other day and saw one of the Anderson boys from Lamoni. We were together at camp in one of the camps in the state quite a bit. His father lives on a farm northwest of Lamoni, you probably know them. He is a good fellow.

I was talking with a bunch of the boys from the 30th division artillery recently and they asked me where I was from and when I told them there was a boy in the bunch said he was from Chariton. We will go home in detachments, each camp goes home as a unit. All the Camp Dodge men will go together and all the others will go to the camps they first reported at. It is about time for mess so will close.

Yours, Bill.

~ ~ ~ ~

Headquarters, Co. M. 118 Inf.

Feb. 23rd, 1919.
From the commanding officer, to the commanding general, 30th division, through channels. Subject: Recommendation for award Spence, William B., No. 2162916, Co. M, 118 Infantry.

1. Private William B. Spence, No. 2162916, Co. M. 118 Infantry, in company with Private Robt. B. Bartley, No. 1312456 and Private William D. Leyland, No. 3168731, of the same organization were detailed as company runners near St. Martin Resere (?) when the company was advancing against the town on Oct. 17, 1918. There was a heavy fog which made the advance extremely difficult as well as dangerous. They delivered messages continually up and down the line enabling the company commander to co-ordinate the effort of his platoons and materially assisting the company in reaching its objective an capturing the town.

2. Emergency address: Mrs. Emma Spence, mother, Garden Grove, Iowa.

3. Eye witness: 1st Lieut. Howard E. Porter.

4. I recommend that this soldier be awarded the Distinguished Service Cross.

Peyton H. Hoge,
Captain, 118th Infantry.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, July of 2015