Sponsored by:

Navy Federal Credit Union
Hanon
Fields
Combs
KIA (WWI)

Awards Received

  • Silver Star

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    Captain (Infantry)

    Regiment:

    38th Infantry Regiment

    Division:

    3d Division, American Expeditionary Forces

    Action Date:

    July & August 1918
    Headquarters, 3d Division, A.E.F., Citation Orders No. 22 (July 8, 1919)

    By direction of the President, under the provisions of the act of Congress approved July 9, 1918 (Bul. No. 43, W.D., 1918), Captain (Infantry) Hanon Fields Combs, United States Army, is cited (Posthumously) by the Commanding General, 3d Division, American Expeditionary Forces, and a silver star may be placed upon the ribbon of the World War I Victory Medals awarded him. While serving with Company C, 38th Infantry Regiment, 3d Division, American Expeditionary Forces, during the barrage at the Marne, Captain Combs held complete control of his men. He showed coolness and excellent judgment in the handling of his men. This was true of him throughout the fighting during July and August 1918. His bravery, coolness and soldierly qualities gave his men complete confidence in him and gave him excellent control of them in the thickest of the Marne and Vesle fighting. [A Distinguished Service Cross was awarded for this action.]

  • Distinguished Service Cross

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    Captain (Infantry)

    Regiment:

    38th Infantry Regiment

    Division:

    3d Division, American Expeditionary Forces

    Action Date:

    July 22, August 7, & October 9, 1918
    War Department, General Orders No. 19 (1920)

    The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Captain (Infantry) Hanon Fields Combs, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company C, 38th Infantry Regiment, 3d Division, American Expeditionary Forces, in France against the enemy during the months of July, August, and October, 1918. On 22 July 1918, while at the head of his company, which was advancing in the direction of Le Charmel, Department of Aisne, France, against the enemy, Captain Combs noticed that after passing a certain spot on the road his company was subject to the machine-gun fire of a sniper. Organizing a small party he led them in capturing the machine gun and killing the sniper. On 7 August 1918, at the Vesle River, he personally silenced a machine-gun sniper that had been keeping up a harassing fire on his command. This was done in the face of machine-gun fire. On 9 October 1918, near Cierges, Department of Meuse, Captain combs was wounded in action by shrapnel in the back. He refused to go back to the first-aid station. 22 October 1918, he was killed by a sniper while establishing a new post command.