Navy Federal Credit Union

By direction of the President, under the provisions of the act of Congress approved July 9, 1918 (Bul. No. 43, W.D., 1918), First Lieutenant (Chaplain’s Corps) William James Farrell, United States Army, is cited by the Commanding General, American Expeditionary Forces, for gallantry in action and a silver star may be placed upon the ribbon of the Victory Medals awarded him. Chaplain Farrell distinguished himself by gallantry in action while serving with the 104th Infantry Regiment, 26th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, in action at Seicheprey, France, 20 April 1918, in personally conducting an ambulance over a shell-swept road to evacuate the wounded.

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 20 & November 9, 1918

    War Department, General Orders No. 49 (1922)

    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 First Lieutenant (Chaplain’s Corps) William James Farrell, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 104th Infantry Regiment, 26th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, at Seicheprey, France, 20 April 1918. With great gallantry and with utter disregard for his own danger, Chaplain Farrell personally conducted an ambulance from the battalion command post to the position of a supporting battery, where he assisted in the evacuation of the wounded. At Ville-devant-Chaumont, France, 9 November 1918, when informed that one of the men of his battalion had been mortally wounded, Chaplain Farrell, in spite of extremely heavy artillery and flanking machine-gun fire, made his way by running and crawling from shell hole to shell hole until he reached the dying soldier to whom he gave the last rites of his church and with whom he remained until the soldier died.