Navy Federal Credit Union

Awards Received

  • Distinguished Service Cross

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    Sergeant

    Batallion:

    320th Machine-Gun Battalion

    Division:

    82d Division, American Expeditionary Forces

    Action Date:

    October 14, 1918

    War Department, General Orders 71 (1919)

    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 Hannes Rypkema (ASN: 2147198), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company A, 320th Machine-Gun Battalion, 82d Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near St. Juvin, France, 14 October 1918. Sergeant Rypkema went in advance of his section and, unassisted, captured and sent to the rear 13 German prisoners. With the aid of two infantrymen he later captured 28 more prisoners under heavy artillery and machine-gun fire. When his platoon commander had been killed and more than three-fourths of his platoon had become casualties, he reorganized the remainder of the platoon and continued the attack.