Sponsored by:

Navy Federal Credit Union

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 Major (Infantry) Chester A. Davis, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 3d Machine-Gun Battalion, 1st Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Hattonville, France, in the St. Mihiel Salient, 12 – 13 September 1918. Sent by his brigade commander to verify the positions of the first lines of the assaulting battalions, Major Davis continued forward to ascertain the approximate location of the enemy lines. Accompanied by only two others, he overtook a hostile formation of about 60 men, wagons, animals, and machine-guns, which formed a rear guard to facilitate the retreat of the enemy convoys, and by the exercise of rare gallantry and judgment, captured this entire enemy force, despite its overwhelming superiority in numbers and strength.

Awards Received

  • Navy Cross

    Service:

    United States Marine Corps

    Rank:

    Sergeant

    Regiment:

    11th Regiment, 2d Marine Brigade (Nicaragua)

    Action Date:

    March 28, 1928 – June 30, 1929
    Authority – USMC CommuniquŽ: 213770 (16 April 1930)

    The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Sergeant Chester A. Davis (MCSN: 213770), United States Marine Corps, for distinguished service in the line of his profession during continuous active service with the Guardia Nacional of the Republic of Nicaragua of the Republic of Nicaragua and Eleventh Regiment, U.S. Marine Corps in the Northern Area of Nicaragua between 28 March 1928 and 30 June 1929. Sergeant Davis participated in and distinguished himself by his gallantry on many combined Marine and Guardia patrols. Later, while in command of a unit of Guardia troops at San Juan de Telpaneca which was a heavily bandit infested coffee section, he so vigorously carried on active operations against bandits as to enable the peaceful inhabitants to harvest their coffee crop and market it without being molested. During this period he was ambushed by a vastly superior force of bandits. By a display of extraordinary courage and remarkable qualities of leadership he successfully led his troops in an assault on the bandit position, defeating and routing them.