Navy Federal Credit Union

Awards Received

  • Silver Star

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    Private First Class

    Regiment:

    3d Supply Train

    Division:

    3d Division, American Expeditionary Forces

    Action Date:

    July 18, 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), Corporal Joseph F. Handley (ASN: 748827), Corporal Gordon A. McCallum (ASN: 748832), and Private First Class Lawrence R. Olson (ASN: 748848), United States Army, are 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 them. While serving with the 3d Supply Train, 3d Division, American Expeditionary Forces, at Mezy, France, on 18 July 1918, these men drove three ton trucks to the banks of the Marne, loaded with pontoons and boas, under terrific machine gun, artillery and sniper fire. In accomplishing this mission, the truck driven by Corporal McCallum was totally disabled by hostile machine gun fire. After corporal Handley and Private First Class Olson had successfully accomplished their mission, all three men volunteered for further duty by hauling additional engineering supplies as well as human freight on the machine gun and shell-swept road between Mezy and Fossoy, throughout the night of 18 July. Due to their untiring efforts and remarkable coolness under adverse road conditions they were largely responsible for making it possible to advance our troops across the Marne rapidly.