WWI Silver Star pair (1Lt Ferrol E. Evans, 11th Infantry)

World War I Silver Star pair to 1Lt Ferrol E. Evans, 11th Infantry, 5th Division: Silver Star, slot brooch, machine-engraved “Ferrol E./Evans”, numbered “88739”; World War I Victory Medal, clasps “Meuse-Argonne” and “Defensive Sector” (reribboned on a long ribbon). With an original photo of Evans in uniform; an onionskin extract of 5th Division GO #21 with the Silver Star citation; photo of Evans as a boy and another later in life; copied award cards showing the Silver Star citation.

1Lt Evans’ citation reads: “In the action at Bois des Rappes, near Cunel, France, on October 20th, 1918, showed exceptional qualities of leadership, coolness and devotion to duty, when with his platoon, he advanced to reinforce the line held by the Third Battalion, and found that there were not more than ten men left holding. He immediately re-established the line and held it against a counter-attack. Next day Lieut. Evans led his platoon with great valor thru three lines of machine gun nests without the aid of an artillery barrage, advancing more than two kilometers under continuous machine gun fire, aiding materially in clearing the Bois des Rappes of the most menacing resistance the Germans could put up. Having reached the objective he dressed nine wounded men while the line was being organized, disregarding his own safety amidst violent machine gun fire.” The Silver Star was issued 22 September 1952. (Ex-FJP Auctions, November 2012)