NAME: Joseph B. Westnedge
MEDAL: Army Distinguished Service Medal
AWARDED (POSTHUMOUSLY) FOR ACTIONS DURING World War I
SERVICE: Army
RANK: Colonel
DIVISION: 32d Division, American Expeditionary Forces
GENERAL ORDERS: War Department, General Orders No. 70 (1919)
CITATION:
The
President
of
the
United
States
of
America,
authorized
by
Act
of
Congress,
July
9,
1918,
takes
pride
in
presenting
the
Army
Distinguished
Service
Medal
(Posthumously)
to
Colonel
(Infantry)
Joseph
B.
Westnedge,
United
States
Army,
for
exceptionally
meritorious
and
distinguished
services
to
the
Government
of
the
United
States,
in
a
duty
of
great
responsibility
during
World
War
I.
With
signal
ability
Colonel
Westnedge
Commanded
the
126th
Infantry,
32d
Division,
from
date
of
its
organization
to
its
final
engagement
during
the
Meuse-Argonne
offensive,
inspiring
the
members
of
his
command
by
his
personal
courage
and
indefatigable
zeal;
he
kept
his
regiment
efficiently
organized
at
all
times
as
demonstrated
by
the
successful
results
obtained
in
its
operations
against
the
enemy.
During
his
service
at
the
front
he
contracted a disease which subsequently proved fatal.
NAME:Joseph B. Westnedge
MEDAL: Silver Star
AWARDED FOR ACTIONS DURING: World War I
SERVICE: Army
DIVISION: 32d Division, American Expeditionary Forces
GENERAL ORDERS: GHQ, American Expeditionary Forces, Citation Orders No. 5 (June 3, 1919)
CITATION:
By
direction
of
the
President,
under
the
provisions
of
the
act
of
Congress
approved
July
9,
1918
(Bul.
No.
43,
W.D.,
1918),
Colonel
(Infantry)
Joseph
B.
Westnedge,
United
States
Army,
is
cited
(Posthumously)
by
the
Commanding
General,
American
Expeditionary
Forces,
for
gallantry
in
action
and
a
silver
star
may
be
placed
upon
the
ribbon
of
the
Victory
Medals
awarded
him.
Colonel
Westnedge
distinguished
himself
by
gallantry
in
action
while
serving
as
Commanding
Officer,
126th
Infantry
Regiment,
32d
Division,
American
Expeditionary
Forces,
in
action
between
the
Ourcq
and
Vesle
Rivers,
France,
28
July
1918,
and
by
his
brilliant leadership of his regiment.
NAME: Joseph Burchnall Westnedge, Colonel, U.S. Army
REGIMENT/DIVISION: 126th Infantry Regiment, 32nd ‘Red Arrow’ Division, A.E.F.
DATE OF ACTION: 31 July to 6 August 1918
DEGREE OF AWARD: Croix de Guerre with palm
GENERAL ORDERS: Order No. 12.335 "D," 15 December 1918, General Headquarters, French Armies of the
East
CITATION: “Between the Ourcq and the Vesle from July 31 to August 6, 1918, he displayed great qualities
as a leader and great coolness under fire and largely contributed to the success of the operations of his
brigade.”
American Legion Joseph B. Westnedge Post 36 | 1920 East Kilgore Road Portage, MI 49002| Phone: 269-348-0220| Email: alpost36@milegionpost36.org
