Navy Federal Credit Union

Awards Received

  • Distinguished Service Cross

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    Private First Class

    Division:

    Ambulance Service, American Expeditionary Forces

    Action Date:

    October 13 – 15, 1918

    War Department, General Orders No. 145 (1918)

    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 Private First Class Clifford Kirkpatrick (ASN: 10395), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Section No. 647, Ambulance Service, American Expeditionary Forces, at Sommerance, France, October 13 – 15, 1918. While he was loading his ambulance at an advanced dressing station Private Kirkpatrick was struck in the back by a shell fragment and rendered unconscious. Upon recovering, he drove his car through heavy shell fire back to the field hospital and made repeated trips until he was relieved. Two days later Private Kirkpatrick, arriving at a point on the road near an advanced post, saw a shell strike in the middle of an infantry detachment moving up to the line. He stopped his car, and, despite continuous and intense shelling, loaded on three wounded soldiers, carried them to the nearest aid station, returned, and continued the work of evacuation until relieved.