Brown, Harold, PVT

Signed by General John J Pershing, commander-in-chief of the United States Army in France, awarded the “Distinguished Service Cross,” the first American decoration for bravery awarded to a local soldier.
On 18 June 1919, the Bakersfield Californian reported, “Private Brown was with the famous lost Battalion in the Argonne forest engagement, and when his detachment was completely surrounded by Germans, he volunteered to re-establish communications with the body of American soldiers about a quarter of a mile away.”
The Distinguished Service Cross is for extreme gallantry and risk of life in actual combat with an armed enemy force.
Private Brown was Killed in Action and is interred in the American Cemetery, Commune of Binarville, Marne, France.
Distinguished Service Cross, awarded for actions during the World War I
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Private Harold Brown (ASN: 1634272), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company D, 308th Infantry Regiment, 77th Division, A.E.F., near Charlevaux, France, 4 October 1918. When the first two battalions of his regiment had been surrounded by the enemy, Private Brown volunteered to accompany a patrol for the purpose of establishing liaison with the forward troops, knowing from the fate of previous patrols that the mission would probably prove fatal. He was killed as the patrol was attempting unsuccessfully to reach the forward battalions.
General Orders: War Department, General Orders 74 (1919)
Note: If you browse the web for information about the Lost Battalion you’ll find Harold Brown listed as Clifford Brown of Company C. My research and discovery of news articles from the indicated source suggests the Book of Honors is correct. It is possible Harold Brown’s middle name was Clifford.