World War I Distinguished Service Cross Medal #4725
A friend of mine owned this Distinguished Service Cross about 25 years ago, he mentioned to me that it was attributed to Angelo J. Gillotti. I had what was left of Pvt. Gillotti’s burned file pulled and couldn’t confirm the medal unfortunately since his file had burned in the 1973 national archives Fire. I think it would be a disservice to Pvt. Gillotti to not include what was left of his file and research with this medal. I do believe it is his.
United States Army Private Angelo J. Gillotti (service No. 291820) was born in 1892. Angelo enlisted from Utica, New York as a Private in the U.S. Army June 9th 1917, at Fort Slocum. He fought heroically against the Germans, he was slightly gassed and awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for extraordinary heroism in action at Thiaucourt, France, September 12th 1918.
War Department, General Orders No. 59 (1919)
“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 Angelo J. Gillotti (ASN:
291820), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Battery E, 12th Field Artillery, 2d Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Thiaucourt, France, 12 September 1918. While acting as spare cannoneer, Private Gillotti sprang, at a word from his executive officer to act as No. 1 of the supplementary gun crew for the first piece, whose entire crew were wounded and continued in the service of his piece until the barrage had been completed”
After serving in the Occupation of Germany he was honorably discharged on June 16th 1919, at Camp Lee, Virginia, private, Battery E, Twelfth Field Artillery. Discharge was by reason of demobilization. He was issued a Victory Medal and French Croix De Guerre in addition to his Valor Cross.
Private Gillotti reenlisted December 1st 1919, and was honorably discharged, “character good” on November 30th 1920, by reason of expiration of term of service, private, Motorcycle Company No. 3 Quartermaster Corps. He reenlisted again January 7th 1921 and was honorably discharged “character good” by purchase September 19th 1922, private, Medical Department.
He lastly reenlisted on May 22nd 1924, and was assigned to the Seventy-sixth Field Artillery. He was absent without leave from August 12th to 26th, 1924; was tried by summary court martial, and was sentenced to confinement at hard labor for 30 days and forfeiture of $14 of his pay.
On November 4th 1924, he deserted at the Presidio of Monterey, California, and did not return to military control. On October 6th 1931 he was discharged from the Army on account of desertion: trial barred by the statute of limitations.
In 1935 a Senate House Committee report and passed a measure to relieve Gillotti of his court martial and instate a honorable discharge at his last discharge. There are several references to statements of some of Gillotti's comrades, testifying to his bravery, fidelity, and gallantry as a soldier and while in action.
“A witness, Charles B. Etzler, who was a sergeant in Battery E, Twelfth Field Artillery, American Expeditionary Forces, with Private Gillotti, states that he knew Gillotti and served with him in that battery, and that he was a good soldier and performed his various duties well and without hesitation. witness states that on September 12th 1918, at the Battle of St. Mihiel, Battery E, Twelfth Field Artillery, was firing a rolling barrage when a 77-millimeter German shell struck directly on the trailpiece of the first gun and killed 4 men and wounded 4 more; that everyone in the gun section was either wounded or killed except Gillotti, who, together with several other men, all of whom were later decorated, put the gun back in action with a loss of only 30 seconds' firing time. This witness also states that from that time on it was common talk among the members of the battery that Gillotti had lost his nerve, but that he tried bravely and courageously to overcome his nervousness but could not; that his value as a soldier from that time on was much below his former record”.
“Another witness, Michael Joyce, a corporal in Battery E, Twelfth Field American Expeditionary relates that Gillotti was slightly gassed at and detiled substantially the same state of facts as the witness, Etzler. He states that Gillotti was a hero of great valor and a further affidavit by Vincent Longobucco states that he has observed the soldier frequently and that he is in a highly nervous condition, extremely restless, and accustomed to periods of dizziness”.
“While overseas during the World War he had combat service at Verdun, in the Aisne defensive, at Chateau-Thierry, the Aisne-Marne offensive, St. Mihiel, the Meuse-Argonne, and in other major engagements. On March 28th 1925, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for extraordinary heroism in action at Thiaucourt, France, on September 12th 1918.”
“In view of all this evidence, the committee has concluded that the soldier's desertion was the result of nervousness and inability to control his actions, resulting from the strain of actual heroic service under the stress of great danger and terrible ordeal. We further conclude that to refuse the relief granted would be an unjustified failure on the part of the committee to give just and fair recognition to heroism and patriotism gloriously and honorably shown by this soldier, and we therefore report the bill favorably and feel that it should pass and become a law and that otherwise justice would not be done one of the country's heroes.”
