Posted on Mar 13, 2025
The first Americans to earn the Distinguished Service Cross were two Army nurses
1.34K
14
5
7
7
0
Interesting historical footnote for women.
The first Americans to earn the Distinguished Service Cross were two Army nurses
Posted from taskandpurpose.comPosted in these groups: 
Medals
Women in the Military
Medals Women in the Military
Posted 9 mo ago
Responses: 2
Initially I was confused by the headline because it didn't synch with the history of 'Big Red One' (1st Division) and that the first recipients were Soldiers from that division, but the author of the article does clarify it later.
Ms. MacDonald and McClelland were the first two to receive the DSC after it was codified in law by Congress, but three 1st Division Soldiers (PVT Walsh, SGT Norton, and 2LT Newport Green) were the first ones to receive it after it was created.
Small quibble with the article (it offends the Military Historian in me) - Towards the top of the article it states, "the Army’s then-new Distinguished Service Cross, which had been officially created by Congress on Jan. 2, 1917," which is incorrect.
It was officially created on Jan 2, 1918 when authorized by President Wilson in War Department General Order No. 6* (the article does later quote a historian that mentions it) and later codified into law by Congress on July 9, 1918.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Extracts from General Orders and Bulletins, War Department, January 1918 - https://www.google.com/books/edition/Extracts_from_General_Orders_and_Bulleti/9GYMGkosIqEC?hl=en&gbpv=1 (Search at the bottom for "General Orders No. 6, January 12, 1918")
Ms. MacDonald and McClelland were the first two to receive the DSC after it was codified in law by Congress, but three 1st Division Soldiers (PVT Walsh, SGT Norton, and 2LT Newport Green) were the first ones to receive it after it was created.
Small quibble with the article (it offends the Military Historian in me) - Towards the top of the article it states, "the Army’s then-new Distinguished Service Cross, which had been officially created by Congress on Jan. 2, 1917," which is incorrect.
It was officially created on Jan 2, 1918 when authorized by President Wilson in War Department General Order No. 6* (the article does later quote a historian that mentions it) and later codified into law by Congress on July 9, 1918.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Extracts from General Orders and Bulletins, War Department, January 1918 - https://www.google.com/books/edition/Extracts_from_General_Orders_and_Bulleti/9GYMGkosIqEC?hl=en&gbpv=1 (Search at the bottom for "General Orders No. 6, January 12, 1918")
(2)
(0)
PO3 Edward Riddle
Thank You for clearing that up, Brother Randall. We don't want any lies circulating around out there.
(1)
(0)
COL Randall C.
PO3 Edward Riddle - They weren't 'lies' per se, but the headline was inaccurate (a more correct version would be a qualification or differentiation after "The first Americans to earn the Distinguished Service Cross" and before "were two Army nurses").
Regardless of the author's error when writing the article, as SSgt Richard Kensinger said, "They and so many others are amazing!"
Regardless of the author's error when writing the article, as SSgt Richard Kensinger said, "They and so many others are amazing!"
(1)
(0)
1
1
0
Read This Next
Continue with Facebook 
Continue with Google