Navy Federal Credit Union

Awards Received

  • Distinguished Service Cross

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    First Sergeant

    Regiment:

    128th Infantry Regiment

    Division:

    32d Division, American Expeditionary Forces

    Action Date:

    August 1 & October 9, 1918

    War Department, General Orders No. 126 (1919)

    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 First Sergeant Rollin B. Curtis (ASN: 285563), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company A, 128th Infantry Regiment, 32d Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Cierges, France, 1 August 1918; and near Gesnes, France, 9 October 1918. During the advance near Reddy Farm, Sergeant Curtis, then a platoon commander, was painfully wounded in the leg, but refused to be evacuated until wounded a second time. During the advance, the battalion commander asked for a volunteer to establish liaison with the unit on the right. Sergeant Curtis immediately offered his services for this hazardous mission. On 9 October near Gesnes, when the only officer in his company was killed, Sergeant Curtis took command, leading the company through an intense enemy barrage. Although wounded and knocked down by the explosion of a shell, he continued to lead the company until relieved.