William E. Kepner’s Distinguished Service Cross 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 Captain (Infantry) William E. Kepner (ASN: 0-5686/6A), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 4th Infantry Regiment, 3d Division, A.E.F., near Cunel, France, 5 – 6 October 1918. While in command of a battalion. Captain Kepner personally led one company of his command in an attack on a woods occupied by a company of German machine-gunners. He was the first man to enter the woods and later when part of the attacking company was held up by flanking machine-gun fire, he, with a patrol of three men, encircled this machine-gun and after a hard hand-to-hand fight, put the gun out of action.
Born: Jan. 6, 1893 in Miami, Ind…. Home of record: Kokomo, Ind…. Held six ratings: command pilot, combat observer, senior balloon pilot, zeppelin pilot, semi-rigid pilot, and metal-clad airship pilot… Commanded 8th Fighter Command, the Eighth Air Force’s 2d Bomb Wing, then the Ninth Air Force during World War II — and personally flew 24 combat missions in fighters and bombers… Retired from the Air Force in 1953 as a lieutenant general… Departed: July 3, 1982… Interred: Greenwood Cemetery in Clarksville, Tenn.