ONE OF THE D. S. C. MEN

An Act of Heroism and Martyrdom that Hardly May be Matched

A Distinguished Service Cross is a proud possession. It is at once a token of bravery and an evidence that bravery has been displayed in valiant service for the good or the saving of others. It implies a great risk taken, a danger faced, a sacrifice made—a something done that, however creditable to the man, is of special value because of its benefit or advantage to many besides the man. For that reason one Distinguished Service Cross differs from another in proud significance to the winner or to the relative to whom the cross comes as an after death testimony to the winner’s worth. The formal official paragraph that announces the award of the cross to this one or that one tells nothing or little of the service that gained the distinction, because the official estimate makes no discrimination between the sentimental values of the respective services, distinguished service being distinguished service.

But there are varying qualities of bravery, different kinds of incitement to heroism, different elements in the acts of sacrifice; and one might like to know the varying values of the instant motives behind the acts—say, of a man who, in the heat and excitement of an engagement, rushes through a withering fire of shell and bullet to perform a serviceable act of desperate valor, with one chance in a thousand of coming safely off; or, of a man, without the stimulus of brain aflame and with the absolute certainty of death, who unhesitatingly, immediately lays down his life for his friends. Which is the higher courage?

Drawn by Joseph Cummings Chase.

Private Harold J. Devereaux

32nd Division, 125th Infantry, Company “M”

While crossing the River Ourcq near Sergy, July 31, 1918, the corporal of his squad was wounded by machine-gun fire. The enemy continued to fire on the wounded man and Private Devereaux, alone, with the fire of his rifle, attacked the machine-gun and put it out of action.

In the great list, the never fully-to-be-completed list of heroic deeds in the four years’ war, is there any deed more sublime in essential quality than that of Sergt. Willard D. Purdy, Company A, 127th Infantry, A. E. F.? You never heard of it? That’s the amazing thing—that this splendid exhibition of the highest character of devoted courage is hardly known at all! Really, it was so great a heroism that it seemed a commonplace in the telling. Here is the story. It reads very simply in the bald despatch of a newspaper man reporting the facts from Washington.

THE MARTYR HERO

“Washington, D. C., May 30.—[Special.]—The heroism of a Wisconsin sergeant, who deliberately sacrificed his own life to save those of his men in the fight at Hegenbach, Alsace, July 4, 1917, is told with official brevity and skeletonized simplicity in to-day’s war department report announcing the award of distinguished service crosses for bravery in action.

“The martyr hero was Sergt. Willard D. Purdy, a member of Company A, 127th Infantry. During the engagement at Hegenbach, Sergt. Purdy, after returning with his patrol from a reconnaissance of the enemy’s line, was engaged in calling the roll of his men and collecting their hand grenades when the pin of one of the grenades became disengaged.

“Seeing the grenade could not be thrown away without making certain the wounding of American troops—most probably some of his own men—Sergt. Purdy instantly commanded his men to run. Then he himself seized three of the grenades and, bending over, held them against his stomach. The grenades exploded, killing Sergt. Purdy instantly, but his presence of mind and self-sacrificing action had saved the lives of his companions.

“When the pin of a grenade becomes disengaged nothing can be done to prevent the bomb from exploding within six or eight seconds.

“Sergt. Purdy’s home address was Box 632, Marshfield, Wis., and his next of kin was given as Mrs. Esther Purdy, his mother.”

No grand adventure; no risk with cheering comrades in a mad assault; no thrill with the consciousness of perils to be met and with luck avoided; no taking of hazards with the hope of an achieved success. Not like a flight into the air to shoot down, after vivid combat, an enemy plane. Not much of a story for the press. But think about it. Match it.