Navy Federal Credit Union

Awards Received

  • Distinguished Service Cross

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    Second Lieutenant (Infantry)

    Regiment:

    102d Infantry Regiment

    Division:

    26th Division, American Expeditionary Forces

    Action Date:

    October 23 – 29, 1918

    War Department, General Orders No. 46 (1919)

    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 (Infantry) Ralph W. Harwood, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 102d Infantry Regiment, 26th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Verdun, France, October 23 – 29, 1918. Throughout the action from October 23 to 28 Lieutenant Harwood set a splendid example of courage and heroism to his company in action against overwhelming odds. On 29 October upon learning that four of his men were in shell holes in front of the line and near the enemy’s position and were so badly wounded that they could not return without assistance, he crawled forward and rescued the four men, one at a time, bringing them back to our lines through a constant and terrific machine-gun fire.