Navy Federal Credit Union

Awards Received

  • Distinguished Service Cross

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    Private First Class

    Regiment:

    328th Infantry Regiment

    Division:

    82d Division, American Expeditionary Forces

    Action Date:

    October 9 – 10, 1918

    War Department, General Orders No. 37 (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 Private First Class William Odenwald (ASN: 1911455), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company M, 328th Infantry Regiment, 82d Division, American Expeditionary Forces, at Cornay, France, October 9 – 10, 1918. After fighting for six hours, Private Odenwald volunteered to accompany 15 other soldiers and an officer on a night patrol of Cornay, which was held by many enemy machine-gun posts. The party worked from 11 o’clock at night until the next morning at clearing buildings and dugouts of the enemy, capturing 65 prisoners and two machine-guns. With six others, Private Odenwald volunteered and entered a dugout, where 23 prisoners were captured. He was wounded while leaving the town, but he refused to go to the aid station until the prisoners had been delivered at brigade headquarters.