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Navy Federal Credit Union

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Major (Infantry), [then Captain] Sidney Carroll Graves, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 16th Infantry Regiment, 1st Division, American Expeditionary Forces, in the Bois-de-Fontaine, France, 29 April 1918. Having located an enemy machine gun in front of his position, Major Graves, with three men, voluntarily crawled out to the position of the machine gun, in full view and within 100 yards of the enemy lines, shot the gunner, killed the rest of the crew with grenades, and returned with his party without a casualty.

Awards Received

  • Distinguished Service Cross

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    Major (Infantry)

    Division:

    American Expeditionary Forces (Siberia)

    Action Date:

    November 18, 1919
    War Department, General Orders No. 15 (1923)

    The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Distinguished Service Cross to Major (Infantry) Sidney Carroll Graves, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism while serving as Assistant Chief of Staff, A.E.F. (Siberia), in action at Vladivostok, Siberia, 18 November 1919. In answer to a call to save noncombatants entrapped in the railroad station at Vladivostok, Siberia, Major Graves fearlessly entered a zone swept by intense machine-gun and artillery fire of Russian Government and insurgent forces, entered the station, and assisted in locating six noncombatants. He escorted them through the attacking troops to a place of safety.