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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 Second Lieutenant (Field Artillery) Walter Grey Dunnington, Jr., United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 10th Field Artillery, 3d Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near St. Eugene, France, July 14 – 15, 1918. Wounded and gassed while directing the fire of one platoon of his company under terrific bombardment, Lieutenant Dunnington refused to be relieved. Although the area surrounding his position was heavily saturated with gas, he removed his gas mask in order that he could make his commands heard above the roar of the guns.

Awards Received

  • Silver Star

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    Second Lieutenant (Field Artillery)

    Regiment:

    10th Field Artillery Regiment

    Division:

    3d Division, American Expeditionary Forces

    Action Date:

    July 14 – 15, 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), Second Lieutenant (Field Artillery) Walter G. Dunnington, Jr., United States Army, is cited 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 the 10th Field Artillery Regiment, 3d Division, American Expeditionary Forces, on the night of 14 – 15 July 1918, near St. Eugene, France, Lieutenant Dunnington was directing the fire of one platoon of Battery B. He was both wounded and gassed and under a most intense shell fire by the enemy, but refused to be relieved. Despite the fact that the area around his battery was heavily gassed, this officer removed his mask in order that his commands could be clearly distinguished, the noise from adjacent batteries creating such a din as to make it impossible for his commands to be hear under any other circumstances. [A Distinguished Service Cross was awarded for this action.]