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SSG Justin Davis
to remember
Payne, Francis Worth, 2LT.
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Casualty Info
Home Town Charleston,Kanawha County
Casualty Date Jul 20, 1918
Cause MIA-Finding of Death
Reason Unknown, Not Reported
Conflict World War I
Location of Interment American Cemetery - Aisne-Marne, France
Entered the Service from: West Virginia
Died: July 20, 1918
Missing in Action or Buried at Sea
Tablets of the Missing at Aisne-Marne American Cemetery
Belleau, France
Awards: Distinguished Service Cross
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 Second Lieutenant (Infantry) Francis W. Payne, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company M, 26th Infantry Regiment, 1st Division, A.E.F., while in charge of an ammunition carrying party near Soissons, France, 19 July 1918. Second Lieutenant Payne showed the highest degree of courage in taking ammunition to the front lines through artillery and machine-gun fire, and was killed while engaged in this duty.
General Orders: War Department, General Orders No. 132 (1918) Action Date: 19-Jul-18 Service: Army Rank: Second Lieutenant Company: Company M Regiment: 26th Infantry Regiment Division: 1st Division, American Expeditionary Forces
Son of James M. and Belle (Abney) Payne
Comments/Citation:
PAYNE Franc1s Worth Ex 13 Enlisted Camp Oglethorpe Ga April 1917 2nd lieutenant Co M 26th Infantry 1st Division attended First Training Camp Fort Oglethorpe Ga commissioned 2nd lieutenant US R at end of camp and sent overseas as a casual with the first detachment of officers from the First Training Camps killed in action near Soissons July 19 1918 cited for bravery posthumously by Brigadier General Beaumont B Buck on Aug 6 1918 Distinguished Service Cross was awarded him on August 16 1918 by General Pershing in the name of the President he declared his intention to volunteer immediately after a state of war was voted by Congress On Aug I5 1917 he was notified of his appointment to the office of 2nd lieutenant and on that day volunteers being called for immediate service in France he was selected for that service he arrived in France about Oct 1 1917 by way of England he saw hard service from about Dec 1 1917 till his death he is buried in the American Cemetery at Plaisy near Soissons his grave is numbered 17 The citation for the Distinguished Service Cross reads as follows American Expeditionary Forces United States Army E Pluribus Unum for Valor Distinguished Service Cross Citation Second Lieutenant Francis W Payne Deceased 26th Infantry Distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United States at Soissons France on the 19th of July 1918 and in recognition of his gallant conduct I have awarded him in the name of the President The Distinguished Service Cross Awarded on the 16th day of August 1918 John J Pershing Commander in Chief No 385 The letter from Adjutant General Ralph Harrison War Department Washington D C Dec 2 1918 to Mr James M Payne Charleston W Va informing him that his son Lieutenant Francis W Payne had been awarded posthumously a Distinguished Service Cross recites that while in charge of an ammunition carrying party near Soissons France July 19 1918 he showed the highest degree of courage in taking ammunition to the front lines through artillery and machine gun fire and was killed while engaged in this duty
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