Navy Federal Credit Union

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 Sergeant Herbert H. Kidwell (ASN: 540921), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company D, 7th Infantry Regiment, 3d Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Cierges, France, 4 October 1918. When the patrol of which he was a member, whose mission it was to establish communication with the 4th Infantry, encountered heavy enemy machine-gun and artillery fire from all sides, it became necessary to take shelter in a shell hole. After two other members of the patrol had been unable to advance, Sergeant Kidwell alone, with exceptional courage and coolness, unflinchingly went forward through the enemy fire and succeeded in completing the mission.

Awards Received

  • Silver Star

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    Sergeant

    Regiment:

    7th Infantry Regiment

    Division:

    3d Division, American Expeditionary Forces

    Action Date:

    October 4 – 6, 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), Sergeant Herbert H. Kidwell (ASN: 540921), 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 Company D, 7th Infantry Regiment, 3d Division, American Expeditionary Forces, on 4 October 1918, near Cierges, France, during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive, Sergeant Kidwell carried messages on the front line to Regimental Headquarters over an area swept constantly by artillery and machine gun fire. Again on 6 October 1918, he exhibited the greatest coolness and bravery while going through an exceptionally heavy enemy barrage to get in touch with a combat party to establish liaison with the regiment on our right, and when the officer commanding the party was killed and most of the party was scattered by enemy machine gun fire, he gathered up four men and continued with his mission until it had been accomplished, thus setting the finest example of bravery and loyalty. [A Distinguished Service Cross was awarded for this action.]