Navy Federal Credit Union

Awards Received

  • Distinguished Service Cross

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    Private

    Regiment:

    131st Infantry Regiment

    Division:

    33d Division, American Expeditionary Forces

    Action Date:

    September 26, 1918

    War Department, General Orders 71 (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 Horace Smotherman (ASN: 1387630), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company F, 131st Infantry Regiment, 33d Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Gercourt, France, 26 September 1918. Advancing, on his own initiative, under heavy artillery, snipers’, and machine-gun fire, Private Smotherman threw a grenade into a snipers’ post, fire from which had held up our advance. His grenade killed the snipers and allowed a renewal of the advance which proved successful.