Numbered Identified WWI 2nd Division Distinguished Service Cross with French Croix De Guerre

A World War I Distinguished Service Cross in splendid condition, numbered on the side of the lower arm “7311”. The decoration has an excellent milk chocolate color and a clean and crisp original ribbon on the full wrap brooch. The DSC is accompanied by a French Croix de Guerre with gilt star, on the reverse the dates 1914-1918. Th medal has the two prong suspension.

Distinguished Service Cross number 7311 is recorded as having been awarded to Corporal Floyd E. Heath of Company C, 23rd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Division (Regular Army) for extraordinary valor on October 4, 1918; near St. Etienne-a-Arnes, France. For this same action he was awarded the French Croix de Guerre with gilt star for heroism. Corporal Heath was born in Elizabeth, Illinois on May 5, 1895. He died on January 25, 1941 (See: “For Valor: Distinguished Service Cross Issues 1918-1925”, by Gary A, Mitchell, Volume 2). Corporal Heath’s citation for the Distinguished Service Cross reads as follows:

“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 Corporal Floyd E. Heath (ASN: 49901), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company C, 23d Infantry Regiment, 2d Division, A.E.F., near St. Etienne-a-Arnes, France, 4 October 1918. Anticipating an enemy counter attack, Corporal Heath was ordered to take out a patrol of eight men to scour the woods to the left of his position, drive out the snipers and establish liaison with the enemy on the left. Fearing that the size of the patrol would attract too much attention, he left the others in the trench, and going out, accomplished the mission alone, returning under heavy machine-gun fire.”