492 



THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE 



Photograph by Paul Thompson 



FOUR ACES, HOMEWARD BOUND, WEARING TROPHIES OF WAR WON IN THE AIR 



All of these airmen are members of the Third Army (note the shoulder insignia, No. 41) 

 and wear the badge of an aviator above their decorations for valor. Each has received the 

 Distinguished Service Cross from his own government as well as war crosses, palms, and 

 stars awarded by our allies. 



rectly ordered and which was of such a 

 character that no one would have been 

 subject to censure for failing to attempt 

 it. This interpretation has been very 

 generally adhered to in making awards of 

 the Medal of Honor, so that it is never 

 given except under circumstances of the 

 most unusual character. 



To illustrate this : two citations from 

 War Department orders awarding the 

 Medal of Honor will be given in full. 

 The selections are made not only to show 

 the character of the deed required, but 

 also to illustrate what an official citation 

 is. Both cases are well known, for col- 

 umns have been written in the papers and 

 magazines about the "Lost Battalion" of 

 the Argonne and about Sergeant York's 

 wonderful exploit. Manifestly these can- 

 not be described in full in an order of 



award and these official citations will 

 show the extent of the "boiling-down" 

 process : 



CHARACTERISTIC CITATIONS AWARDING 

 THE MEDAL OF HONOR 



"By direction of the President, under 

 the provisions of the act of Congress ap- 

 proved July 9, 1918, the medal of honor 

 was awarded in the name of the Con- 

 gress, on November 22, 1918, to the fol- 

 lowing-named officers and enlisted men 

 for the acts of gallantry set forth after 

 each person's name : 



"Charles W. Whittlesey, major 

 (now lieutenant-colonel), 308th Infantry. 

 For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity 

 above and beyond the call of duty in 

 action with the enemy northeast of Binar- 

 ville, in the forest D'Argonne, France, 



