Navy Federal Credit Union

Awards Received

  • Distinguished Service Cross

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    Private

    Regiment:

    7th Infantry Regiment

    Division:

    3d Division, American Expeditionary Forces

    Action Date:

    June 21, 1918

    War Department, General Orders 81 (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 John Raborn (ASN: 540752), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company A, 7th Infantry Regiment, 3d Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Bois-de-Belleau, France, 21 June 1918. While making his way to a first-aid station after being wounded in five places by machine-gun bullets and shrapnel, he encountered two Germans. His own rifle having been shot away, Private Raborn picked up a rifle lying nearby and shot one of the Germans; and, in a bayonet duel with the other German, killed him also, after he himself had been wounded again during the encounter.