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Navy Federal Credit Union

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to First Lieutenant (Infantry) Alexander Rodgers, Jr., United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 319th Infantry Regiment, 80th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Gercourt, France, 26 and 27 September 1918. On the night of 26 September and during the following day Lieutenant Rodgers repeatedly led his detachment in the face of heavy artillery and machine-gun fire in repairing telephone lines between regimental headquarters and front-line battalions. After reestablishing these lines innumerable times, and after they were broken beyond repair, with materials at hand, he, with one of his runners, voluntarily and under intense machine-gun and shell fire carried messages to the front-line elements of his regiment. Later, in action near Cunel, in the Bois-des-Ogons, 14 to 12 October 1918, severely gassed, he refused to be evacuated, working continuously without sleep for four days, keeping lines of communication open to the front, and contracted pneumonia which caused his death on 23 October 1918.

Awards Received

  • Silver Star

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    First Lieutenant (Infantry)

    Regiment:

    319th Infantry Regiment

    Division:

    80th Division, American Expeditionary Forces

    Action Date:

    October 4 – 12, 1918
    GHQ, American Expeditionary Forces, Citation Orders No. 5 (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), First Lieutenant (Infantry) Alexander Rodgers, Jr., United States Army, is cited (Posthumously) 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. First Lieutenant Rodgers distinguished himself by gallantry in action while serving with the 319th Infantry Regiment, 80th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, in action near Cunel, in the Bois des Ogons, France, 4 – 12 October 1918, in refusing to be evacuated although gassed.