SAM J. ERVIN, JR., As a private with the 28th Infantry, 1st Division, Senator Ervin received the Distinguished Service Cross for his extraordinary heroism on 18 July 1918. When the leaders of the other two platoons of his company had become casualties, Private Ervin displayed marked courage and leadership in assisting his platoon leader in reorganizing those platoons and in fearlessly leading one of the platoons through heavy artillery and machine gun fire to the capture of the objective. Upon arriving at the objective, they were swept by terrific fire from an enemy machine gun nest which inflicted heavy casualties. Private Ervin called for volunteers and led them in the face of direct fire in a charge upon the machine gun nest until he fell, severely wounded, in front of the gun pit. Two members of the party reached the machine gun, killed the crew, and seized the gun.

After being wounded, he crawled back to the firing line and organized an automatic-rifle post and refused to be evacuated until danger of counterattack had passed. Private Ervin’s gallant conduct in this action exemplefied exceptional courage and leadership and was an inspiration to his comrades.

The Honorable Sam J. Ervin, Jr., former Senator from 1954 to 1974 and resided in North Carolina.