The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Distinguished Service Medal to Hospital Apprentice First Class Ursher Lee Fifer, United States Navy, for extraordinary conspicuous gallantry while serving as a Corpsman attached to the Sixth Regiment (Marines), 2d Division, American Expeditionary Forces, in action on 6 June 1918, during the capture of Bouresches, Chateau-Thierry Sector, France. Hospital Apprentice First Class Fifer dressed and evacuated the wounded from a wheat field swept by heavy artillery and machine-gun fire. At a time when the losses threatened the success of the operation his heroic conduct steadied the lines and spurred the attacking platoons on through barrage fire. Also on 10 July 1918, near Vierzy, France, he administered aid to wounded Infantry troops as they advanced, taking the wounded into Vierzy under heavy shell fire and bringing back water and stretchers. He fearlessly ran along the line, exposing himself to sniper and machine-gun fire, to direct prisoners to wounded men. Hospital Apprentice First Class Fifer was also commended for heroic conduct on 8 October 1918, in Champagne, France.



