Gordon Carlisle Stapleton

1st Lieutenant, U. S. Army

Distinguished Service Cross

GENERAL ORDERS:
War Department, General Orders No. 37 (1919), Amended by Supplement 1
CITATION:
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 Second Lieutenant (Infantry) Gordon C. Stapleton, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 6th Infantry Regiment, 5th Division, A.E.F., near Vilosnes, France, 6 November 1918.
Entering Vilosnes with a patrol, Lieutenant Stapleton encountered heavy enemy machine-gun fire. He attacked and killed four Germans, took four prisoners and forced those remaining to take shelter in a trench. Although greatly outnumbered he held his position, while the French crossed the River Meuse and took many prisoners.

On 14 May 1919 awarded the French Legion d'Honneur.

On 24 April 1919 awarded the French Croix de Guerre with palm.