William H. Kofmehl - War Hero

KOFMEHL

Posted By: Sharyl Ferrall (email)
Date: 8/2/2004 at 04:05:11

DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS
William H. Kofmehl, second lieutenant, Company C, 15th Machine Gun Battalion. For extraordinary heroism in action north of Verdun, France, October 21, 1918. After his platoon had suffered heavy casualties in the Bois de Rappes from machine gun fire he located the enemy guns, and, rallying a handful of his men, charged the enemy positions, capturing 37 prisoners. After getting his own machine guns in position Lieut. Kofmehl, seeing that one of his gunners had been wounded, operated the gun himself, setting an example to his men.

Residence at appointment:
Farley, Iowa

-source: Official Register, State of Iowa 1921-1922, Twenty-Ninth Number, Military Decorations of Iowans in the World War, pg. 366

-transcribed by Sharyl Ferrall