Five of the men from Warren County who served in the Great War were cited for bravery. Here’s a little bit about each of them.

Ralph Summerton

Summerton, Tidioute, was a sergeant in Co. I of the 112th Regiment.

According to Warren County Boys Over There, Summerton “was suffering with wounds the night before the attack on Chatel Chehery.”

Chatel Cherery is a small town in the Ardenne region of northern France. According to the 110th Infantry division history, the town and two hills – dubbed 244 and 223 – were held in force by the Germans. A “small attack” was set for October 7, 1918 “which has as its objective the seizing of Hill 244.” The plan was to grow that attack into “a larger attack by the 28th Disvision (of which the 112th was a part) and 82nd Division for the purpose of forcing the evacuation of the Argonne Forest.”

The 110th and 112th Regiments launched an attack at 5:30 in the morning and encountered heavy machine gun fire from prepared positions on Hills 244 and 223.

Summerton had been told by the battalion adjutant that there were no officers left prior to the attack.

“Against the doctor’s advice, Summerton led Company I in the attack,” Warren County Boys Over There states. “He was the first man to mount Hill 244. General Nolan saw him carry on. It was for this particular bit of bravery Summerton was cited.”

George E. McGinnis

McGinnis, Clarendon, was a captain leading the 110th Ambulance Company.

He was in northeast France near Fismes when the battle of Fismes and Fismette broke out on August 7, 1918. The Germans held high ground around the town on three sides and rained terror down on the American attackers.

“On the night of August 9, (McGinnis) made a reconnaissance under fire and located a line of ambulance evacuation for Fismett(e),” Warren County Boys Over There states. “The next morning, he repaired a bridge under fire and was cited for the heroism twice shown.”

The towns of Fismes and Fismette are now joined by a memorial bridge dedicated to the soldiers of the 28th Infantry Division who struggled there.

Frank Bauer

Bauer served in the Ambulance Corps and was awarded the French War Cross “for distinguished conduct under fire when he rescued a comrade in a barrage.” No additional detail is provided.

Ralph Brasington and

Harold Boynton

Brasington and Boynton, both from Warren, were serving in Unit 593 of the Convois Automobile – evidently a transportation unit – and were both awarded the French War Cross “for notable conduct in assisting to extinguish flames in a French hospital while it was being bombed by German aviators.” No additional detail is provided.