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The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to First Lieutenant (Corps of Engineers) Knox Boude Birney, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 6th Engineers, 3d Division, American Expeditionary Forces, in the Claires-Chenes Woods, France, 20 October 1918. Lieutenant Birney on his own initiative took 12 men from his platoon and charged a number of machine-gun nests which had been holding up the advance for two hours. Attacking them across open ground, he cleaned out the nests and captured 42 prisoners. In attacking other nests in the vicinity he lost his life. His courageous act made it possible for the attacking troops to gain and hold the woods with minimum number of casualties.

Awards Received

  • Silver Star

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    First Lieutenant (Corps of Engineers)

    Regiment:

    6th Engineer Regiment

    Division:

    3d Division, American Expeditionary Forces

    Action Date:

    October 20, 1918
    Headquarters, 3d Division, A.E.F., Citation Orders No. 22 (July 8, 1919)

    By direction of the President, under the provisions of the act of Congress approved July 9, 1918 (Bul. No. 43, W.D., 1918), First Lieutenant (Corps of Engineers) Knox B. Birney, United States Army, is cited (Posthumously) by the Commanding General, 3d Division, American Expeditionary Forces, and a silver star may be placed upon the ribbon of the World War I Victory Medals awarded him. While serving with the 6th Engineer Regiment, 3d Division, American Expeditionary Forces, Lieutenant Birney showed extraordinary heroism in action at Claire Chenes Woods, France, on 20 October 1918. On his own initiative he took twelve men from his platoon and charged a number of machine gun nests, which had been holding up the advance for two hours. Attacking them across open ground, he cleaned out the nests and captured forty-two prisoners. In attacking other nests in the vicinity, he lost his life. His courageous act made it possible for the attacking troops to gain and hold the woods with a minimum number of casualties. [A Distinguished Service Cross was awarded for this action.]