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 Captain (Infantry) Will Rucker Manier, Jr., United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 5th Infantry Brigade, 3d Division, American Expeditionary Forces, in the Claires-Chenes Woods, 21 October 1918. Captain Manier, brigade liaison officer, was at the command post of the assaulting battalion when word was received that the enemy had penetrated our line and was closing in on the command post. No reserves being available, Captain Manier assisted in hastily organizing a force of runners, a signalman and others, and himself taking a rifle, led these men under heavy machine-gun and rifle fire in a counterattack on the advancing enemy. He succeeded in stopping the enemy and holding the position until the line was reestablished. As a result of his courage and initiative a large number of the enemy were captured and many killed or wounded, and the success of future operations assured.
Sponsored by:
Awards Received
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Silver Star
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Silver Star
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Silver Star
Service:
United States ArmyRank:
Captain (Infantry)Regiment:
5th Infantry BrigadeDivision:
3d Division, American Expeditionary ForcesAction Date:
October 21, 1918
By direction of the President, under the provisions of the act of Congress approved July 9, 1918 (Bul. No. 43, W.D., 1918), Captain (Infantry) Will R. Manier, 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. As Liaison Officer, Headquarters, 5th Infantry Brigade, 3d Division, on 21 October 1918 during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive, Captain Manier did at the imminent risk of his life and entirely outside the ordinary limits of his duty, take part in the collecting of all forces in the vicinity of the Advance P.C. of the Seventh Infantry, runners, signalmen, and other available men, to make a counterattack through the Clair Chenes Woods against a German force which had dislodged the troops holding the north half of the woods. After the force had been collected, Captain Manier assisted, under heavy shell and machine gun fire in leading the way through the woods in an advance which was successful in expelling the enemy, capturing prisoners and retaining possession of Clair Chenes. [A Distinguished Service Cross was awarded for this action.]
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Silver Star
Service:
United States ArmyRank:
Captain (Infantry)Regiment:
5th Infantry BrigadeDivision:
3d Division, American Expeditionary ForcesAction Date:
October 21, 1918
GHQ, American Expeditionary Forces, Citation Orders No. 3 (June 3, 1919)By direction of the President, under the provisions of the act of Congress approved July 9, 1918 (Bul. No. 43, W.D., 1918), Captain (Infantry) Will R. Manier, Jr., 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. Captain (Infantry) Manier distinguished himself by gallantry in action while serving with the 5th Infantry Brigade, 3d Division, American Expeditionary Forces, in action in the Clair Chenes Woods, France, 21 October 1918, in personally organizing scattered men and leading them forward against the enemy under heavy shell and machine gun 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.]