Sponsored by:

Navy Federal Credit Union
John
Baptist
DeValles
August 29, 1878

–

May 12, 1920

Cemetery:

Saint Patrick’s Cemetery

Born in Portugal, John DeValles immigrated with his family to the United States in 1880, making their home in New Bedford, Massachusetts, where he attended local schools. He played the violin and spoke six different languages fluently. After seminary, he was ordained a Catholic Priest in 1906. He first served at Our Lady Of Mount Carmel, then Saint John The Baptist Church. He also founded the first Portuguese parochial school at Espirito Santo Church in Fall River, Massachusetts. He received permission to become a Chaplin for the Knights Of Columbus Chaplin’s Corps, and in 1917 was commissioned in the U.S. Army as a chaplain. Accounts of his ministry to both Allied and German soldiers were widely published, and he received honors from both the French and United States governments before his death in 1920, of complications from his wartime wounds.

Awards Received

  • Distinguished Service Cross

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    First Lieutenant (Chaplain’s Corps)

    Regiment:

    104th Infantry Regiment

    Division:

    26th Division, American Expeditionary Forces

    Action Date:

    April 10 – 13, 1918
    War Department, General Orders No. 35 (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 First Lieutenant (Chaplain’s Corps) John Baptist DeValles, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 104th Infantry Regiment, 26th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Apremont, Toul sector, France, April 10 to 13, 1918. Chaplain DeValles repeatedly exposed himself to heavy artillery and machine-gun fire in order to assist in the removal of the wounded from exposed points in advance of the lines. He worked for long periods of time with stretcher bearers in carrying wounded men to safety. Chaplain DeValles previously rendered gallant service in the Chemin des Dames sector, 11 March 1918, by remaining with a group of wounded during a heavy enemy bombardment.