Navy Federal Credit Union

Awards Received

  • Distinguished Service Cross

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    Private

    Regiment:

    110th Infantry Regiment

    Division:

    28th Division, American Expeditionary Forces

    Action Date:

    July 30, 1918

    War Department, General Orders No. 16 (1929)

    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 Private Thomas J. McHale (ASN: 1240180), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company D, 110th Infantry Regiment, 28th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, at the Bois-de-Grimpettes, near Sergy, France, 30 July 1918. When the attack on the Bois-de-Grimpettes was held up by heavy enemy machine-gun and artillery fire, Private McHale volunteered to locate the enemy machine-gun nests. After locating the enemy’s positions he returned and with a platoon charged and cleared the nests, killing many of the crew, and successfully led the platoon to the outer edge of the woods where it was found that the enemy was preparing for a counterattack. Private McHale returned and guided his company to the position occupied by the platoon where it later repulsed the enemy counterattack. The courage, judgment, and leadership displayed by Private McHale were a great inspiration to the other members of the command.