BURKS, Charles R. (War Hero)

BURKS

Posted By: S. Ferrall (email)
Date: 7/19/2004 at 05:03:23

DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS

Charles R. Burks, private, Company I, 168th Infantry. For extraordinary heroism in action near Sergy, northeast of Chateau Thierry, France, July 30, 1918. During the midday attack on Sergy, after all the runners had been exhausted and many men had been killed or wounded, Private Burks volunteered to take a message to a neighboring unit through violent bombardment and machine gun fire. He was killed by a machine gun bullet while on his way with the message.

Emergency address: J.H. Burks, father, Malvern, Iowa
Residence at enlistment: Malvern, Iowa

-source: Official Register, State of Iowa 1921-1922, Twenty-Ninth Number, Military Decorations of Iowans in the World War, pg. 362

-transcribed by Sharyl Ferrall