Navy Federal Credit Union

Awards Received

  • Distinguished Service Cross

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    Corporal

    Regiment:

    6th Field Artillery Regiment

    Division:

    1st Division, American Expeditionary Forces

    Action Date:

    October 5 – 7, 1918

    War Department, General Orders 98 (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 Corporal Joseph F. Petrovic (ASN: 126059), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Battery D, 6th Field Artillery, 1st Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Fleville, France, October 5 – 7,1918. When a shell burst near his gun, throwing him across the train of the piece and killing or wounding all of the section but himself and one other cannoneer, Corporal Petrovic and the latter succeeded in repairing the piece and continued the rolling barrage until it became impossible to fire the gun again. Two days later, under almost identical circumstances, he and one other soldier continued at their post, after the other members of the crew had been wounded, and continued to serve the piece until the completion of the barrage.