Major LEROY G. CRONKHITE, received the Distinguished Service Cross for extraordinary heroism while a Second Lieutenant with the 308th Infantry, 77th Division in France, September 28-October 1,1918. In the face of heavy machine-gun fire, Lieutenant Cronkhite went forward to within hand-grenade range of the enemy lines and brought back to shelter a soldier who had been severely wounded. Later in the day he went out alone and located a dangerous machine-gun nest, which was there-upon destroyed. Although wounded, Lieutenant Cronkhite refused to be evacuated until October 1, when he was ordered to the hospital by the battalion commander.

Major Cronkhite joined the Legion of Valor in 1963 and resided in Washington State.