Sgt. Green, Corp. Thompson, Pvt. Jackson Receive Distinguished Service Crosses, 1918

I found a photo of only one of North Carolina's three Distinguished Service Cross recipients. This is Pvt. Burnwell Jackson of Kinston, N.C., who was killed in action July 19, 1918.

“Citations—Our Heroes,” from the Hickory Daily Record, Oct. 12, 1918

Distinguished service crosses have been awarded to officers and soldiers of the American expeditionary forces in France. Three of the citations are North Carolinians. Two lost their lives in heroic service an the other was severely wounded. Let the story be told by the official communique:

Sergeant Wallace Green, deceased, Co. M. 6^th Infantry. For extraordinary heroism in action at Frapelle, France, August 17, 1918. Sergeant Green unhesitatingly and with great coolness and courage  went forward under a heavy barrage to destroy wire entangements and continued this hazardous work until killed. Next of Kin: (line unreadable), Eure, North Carolina.

Corporal Lawrence E. Thompson, deceased, Co. F, 16^th Infantry. For extraordinary heroism in action near Soissons, France, July 19, 1916. In order to ascertain the location of a machine gun which was inflicting heavy losses upon his platoon, Corporal Thompson unhesitatingly went forward and was killed in the performance of this courageous duty. Next of Kin: Ulysses G. Thompson, Therman, North Carolina.

Private Burnwell C. Jackson, deceased. Co. F, 16^th Infantry. For extraordinary heroism in action near Soissons, France, July 19, 1918. He alone captured a machine gun, killed two of the crew and took the remaining three prisoners. Later in the same day he was killed while making a similar attempt. Next of Kin: Jesse L. Jackson, brother, R.F.D. 4, Kinston, North Carolina.

Sergeant Green methodically cut barbed wire so that his men could advance until he was killed by the machine gun bullets which rained at him by the thousands. That was superb heroism.

Corporal Lawrence E. Thompson unhesitatingly exposed himself to deadly fire in order to locate the batteries that were killing his comrades. Could there be greater service?

Private Burnwell C. Jackson captured a machine gun, “killed two of the crew and too the remaining three prisoners. Later in the same day he was killed while making a similar attempt.” Never was there greater bravery.

The simple records tell the story of heroes. A great list issued for publication today is a plain recital of heroism of the superb kind.