Navy Federal Credit Union

Awards Received

  • Distinguished Service Cross

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    Corporal

    Batallion:

    3d Machine-Gun Battalion

    Division:

    1st Division, American Expeditionary Forces

    Action Date:

    October 4, 1918

    War Department, General Orders No. 10 (1920)

    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 Corporal Byron Culver Echols (ASN: 106203), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company B, 3d Machine-Gun Battalion, 1st Division, American Expeditionary Forces, northwest of Epinonville, France, 4 October 1918. When the advance of the Infantry line was held up by enemy machine-gun fire, Corporal Echols led his machine-gun crew in advance of the Infantry line and, although exposed to heavy machine-gun and artillery fire, he acted as gunner and opened an effective fire which silenced two enemy machine guns and allowed the Infantry to advance. Later he again led his crew forward and while engaging an enemy machine-gun nest was severely wounded.