Navy Federal Credit Union

Creswell Garlington was the son of World War I DSC Recipient Creswell Garlington, Sr., and grandson of Medal of Honor Recipient Ernest Albert Garlington. At the time of his death in World War II, Creswell Garlington, Jr.’s twin brother, Lieutenant Henry Fitch Garlington, an Army Air Forces pilot, was being held as a Prisoner of War in Germany after being shot down on June 5, 1944.

Awards Received

  • Distinguished Service Cross

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    Second Lieutenant (Infantry)

    Batallion:

    3d Battalion

    Regiment:

    335th Infantry Regiment

    Division:

    84th Infantry Division

    Action Date:

    November 29 – December 1, 1944

    Headquarters, European Theater of Operations, U.S. Army, General Orders No. 24 (February 26, 1945)

    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 Second Lieutenant (Infantry) Creswell Garlington, Jr. (ASN: 0-547375), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as a platoon leader, Company I, 3d Battalion, 335th Infantry Regiment, 84th Infantry Division, in action against enemy forces in the European Theater of Operations, from 29 November to 1 December 1944. Second Lieutenant Garlington’s platoon was temporarily stopped during an attack by the fire of four enemy machine guns approximately three hundred yards away. He crawled forward and with hand grenades eliminated two of the positions while a member of his platoon eliminated the other two. Later the same day, he and one of his men broke up enemy patrols which tried to infiltrate through their lines. On 30 November 1944, during an enemy counterattack, he and four of his men crawled to an advantageous point and killed or wounded sixty of the enemy. On 1 December 1944, Second Lieutenant Garlington carried a wounded member of his platoon through intense enemy artillery fire to a place of safety. While directing the fire of his men, an artillery shell hit approximately ten yards away. While at the aid station he insisted that others less seriously wounded be treated first and tried to show his men the position of a concealed enemy machine gun. Second Lieutenant Garlington’s extraordinary heroism, personal bravery and zealous devotion to duty, exemplify the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflect great credit upon himself, the 84th Infantry Division, and the United States Army.