Navy Federal Credit Union

Awards Received

  • Distinguished Service Cross

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    Corporal

    Regiment:

    126th Infantry Regiment

    Division:

    32d Division, American Expeditionary Forces

    Action Date:

    October 14, 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 Corporal Martin J. Paauwe (ASN: 280926), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company K, 126th Infantry Regiment, 32d Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near St. Georges, France, 14 October 1918. After the advance of his platoon had been stopped by severe fire from an enemy machine-gun nest, Corporal Paauwe, assisted by another soldier, reorganized the platoon and placed it under cover. Corporal Paauwe and his companion then charged the enemy machine-gun nest and captured it, together with one officer and twenty men.