Navy Federal Credit Union

Awards Received

  • Distinguished Service Cross

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    Corporal

    Regiment:

    117th Infantry Regiment

    Division:

    30th Division, American Expeditionary Forces

    Action Date:

    October 7, 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 Corporal George Washington Spears (ASN: 1309476), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company L, 117th Infantry Regiment, 30th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Ponchaux, France, 7 October 1918. When part of the line had been halted by heavy fire from three machine-gun nests, Corporal Spears and Private Thomas G. Cagle, armed only with rifles and bayonets, rushed the nearest hostile position, and, of the crew of sis, killed three and put the remainder to flight. Being unable to advance on two other guns because of their heavy fire, these two soldiers then opened fire with their rifles and forced the reminder of the crew of approximately 12 to abandon the position after two of their number had been killed and two wounded.