LEPLEY, James B. - War Hero

LEPLEY

Posted By: S. Ferrall (email)
Date: 8/2/2004 at 04:21:32

DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS
James B. Lepley,
Sergeant, Company M, 168th Infantry. Near Souain, to the northeast of Chalons-sur-Marne, France, on the night of July 14-15, 1918, he left his trench and returned to the woods through a smothering fire of gas, high explosive and shrapnel to search for two men from his platoon who were missing. He found them lost in the woods and guided them back to the platoon. On July 28, 1918, near Sergy, France, he led his platoon forward in the face of a heavy machine gun fire and captured six machine guns and 13 prisoners from the Prussian Guards.

Residence at enlistment: Red Oak, Iowa

-source: Official Register, State of Iowa 1921-1922, Twenty-Ninth Number, Military Decorations of Iowans in the World War, pg. 366-367

-transcribed by Sharyl Ferrall