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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 (Infantry) Earl R. Fretz, United States Army, is cited (Posthumously) 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. First Lieutenant Fretz distinguished himself by gallantry in action while serving with the 12th Machine-Gun Battalion, 4th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, in action near Cour-Champs, France, 18 July 1918, in leading his platoon forward in the face of terrific machine gun and artillery fire. [This award was rescinded under GHQ, American Expeditionary Forces, Citation Orders No. 8 (March 1, 1920) as the recipient has been awarded a Distinguished Service Cross for deed including this act.]

Awards Received

  • Distinguished Service Cross

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    First Lieutenant (Infantry)

    Batallion:

    12th Machine-Gun Battalion

    Division:

    4th Division, American Expeditionary Forces

    Action Date:

    July 18, 1918
    War Department, General Orders No. 5 (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 (Infantry) Earl R. Fretz, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 12th Machine-Gun Battalion, 4th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Courchamps, France, 18 July 1918. After all the officers of Company E, 59th Infantry, had become casualties, Lieutenant Fretz voluntarily assumed command of the Infantry company in addition to his machine-gun platoon and personally led it forward to its objective. The gallantry displayed by this officer while exposed to heavy machine-gun and artillery fire was an important factor in the success of the advance.