Schmidt, Russell A.

SCHMIDT

Posted By: S. Ferrall (email)
Date: 8/3/2004 at 05:17:15

DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS
Russell A. Schmidt, captain, 108th Field Signal Battalion. For extraordinary heroism in action near Cumieres, France, October 8, 1918. With a detail of five men, Captain Schmidt was engaged in attempting to lay a telephone line across the Meuse River, when they were discovered and attacked by a superior force of the enemy. Even after being wounded three times, Captain Schmidt continued the unequal struggle, killing one and wounding three of the enemy, until all his ammunition was exhausted and all of his men severely wounded. Believing himself to be mortally wounded, he advanced into the enemy's lines and gave himself up, in order to save the lives of his men. He was recaptured by our fources later in the day.

Residence at appointment: 132 South Seventh Street, Council Bluffs, Iowa

-source: Official Register, State of Iowa 1921-1922, Twenty-Ninth Number, Military Decorations of Iowans in the World War, pg. 370

-transcribed by Sharyl Ferrall