Navy Federal Credit Union

Awards Received

  • Silver Star

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    Private

    Regiment:

    38th Infantry Regiment

    Division:

    3d Division, American Expeditionary Forces

    Action Date:

    June 18 – 19, 1918

    Headquarters, 3d Division, A.E.F., Citation Orders No. 22 (July 8, 1919)

    By direction of the President, under the provisions of the act of Congress approved July 9, 1918 (Bul. No. 43, W.D., 1918), Private Thomas Lapinsky, United States Army, is cited by the Commanding General, 3d Division, American Expeditionary Forces, and a silver star may be placed upon the ribbon of the World War I Victory Medals awarded him. Private Lapinsky distinguished himself by gallantry in action while serving with the 38th Infantry Regiment, 3d Division, American Expeditionary Forces, on the River Marne at Gland, France, during the night of 18 – 19 June 1918. On that night Second Lieutenant William H. Haynes, 38th Infantry Regiment, organized a patrol, of which he was a member, across the river at a point above Fossoy, France. The patrol crossed in three boats, two of the boats on the way over being sunk by enemy fire. The occupants of the two sunken boats swam the river in the face of hostile fire until the enemy’s bank was reached. Upon arrival at the other side their landing was disputed by an enemy patrol. Lieutenant Haynes and his patrol in a hand-to-hand fight succeeded in either killing or capturing the enemy patrol. They reconnoitered the opposite bank, secured it and returned to their own side with valuable information of the enemy’s positions.