1918 U.S. Mint Army Distinguished Service Cross
#1491
"Orson D. Bleazard"
"Orson D. Bleazard"
United States Army Private 1st Class Orson D. Bleazard Jr. (service # 1113348) was born Nov. 4th 1895 in Kamas, Utah. He enlisted in the U.S. Army Jan. 19th 1918 in Garfield, Utah. Bleazard served with company C, 9th Field Signal Battalion, 5th Division during World War I. He was awarded Distinguished Service Cross #1491 for his actions on April 30th 1918 at the Bois des Rappes, France during the Meuse Argonne Offensive.
Bleazard's Citation reads:
"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 Private Orson D. Bleazard, Jr. (ASN: 1113348), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company C, 9th Field Signal Battalion, 5th Division, A.E.F., in the Bois-des-Rappes, France, 22 October 1918. Although he was almost exhausted from gas and fatigue, Private Bleazard remained on duty throughout the day and night, laying telephone lines from the regimental relay station to the front line through heavy barrage fire from artillery and machine guns."
Pvt Bleazard served overseas from April 30th 1918 through July 27th 1919. He was Honorable Discharged from the Army Aug. 6th 1919.
Orson was a 25 year man in the state Fireman's Association, being a volunteer Salt Lake County Fireman. He was a member of Taylorsville LDS Ward, and a member of the American Federation of Labor. Orson Bleazard passed away of natural causes July 31st 1954 in the Salt Lake City V.A. Hospital at 48 years old. Orson Bleazard is buried at the Taylorsville Memorial Park Cemetery, Salt Lake City, Utah.
Bleazard's Citation reads:
"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 Private Orson D. Bleazard, Jr. (ASN: 1113348), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company C, 9th Field Signal Battalion, 5th Division, A.E.F., in the Bois-des-Rappes, France, 22 October 1918. Although he was almost exhausted from gas and fatigue, Private Bleazard remained on duty throughout the day and night, laying telephone lines from the regimental relay station to the front line through heavy barrage fire from artillery and machine guns."
Pvt Bleazard served overseas from April 30th 1918 through July 27th 1919. He was Honorable Discharged from the Army Aug. 6th 1919.
Orson was a 25 year man in the state Fireman's Association, being a volunteer Salt Lake County Fireman. He was a member of Taylorsville LDS Ward, and a member of the American Federation of Labor. Orson Bleazard passed away of natural causes July 31st 1954 in the Salt Lake City V.A. Hospital at 48 years old. Orson Bleazard is buried at the Taylorsville Memorial Park Cemetery, Salt Lake City, Utah.
