369th Regiment of Infantry, United States, under command of Colonel Hayward, who though injured insisted on leading his regiment in battle, of Lieutenant Colonel Pickering, admirably cool and brave, of Major Spencer, grievously wounded, of Major Cobb, killed, and of Major Little, a true leader of his men, fought with great bravery, stormed powerful enemy positions energetically defended, captured many machine-guns, large numbers of prisoners and six cannon, and took, after heavy fighting, the Town of Sechault. One hundred and sixty-seven officers and men received decorations, including the Congressional Medal of Honor, the Distinguished Service Cross, the Croix de Guerre, and the Legion of Honor. Where all were brave it is almost invidious to mention names. Some of the most noteworthy exploits, however, were those of Henry Johnson, Needham Roberts, and Sergeant William Butler. The story of the first two of these men is well known to the American public, as they were the very first Americans to receive the French Croix de Guerre. Their achievement in repulsing a German raiding party of more than twenty men in a hand-to-hand combat served as an incentive to their comrades and as an example for the whole American Army. Johnson’s feat was particularly noteworthy. Soon after the beginning of the encounter Roberts was wounded. Although surrounded by overwhelming numbers, Johnson continued fighting, first using hand grenades, then his rifle until that jammed, when he used the butt of it, hitting right and left. Finally he resorted to his bolo knife as a last means of preventing the capture of himself and his comrade. Although himself wounded, he succeeded in killing four of the enemy and in wounding a large number of the others. In August, while the 369th was in the front lines, and when raiding parties from both sides went out nightly, on one occasion the Germans laid down an encaging barrage, after which they enclosed and captured a raiding party of one officer and four men. Sergeant William Butler, armed with a Chauchaut rifle, attacked the group with such effectiveness that he killed four men and wounded the officer, who was captured and later died, the rest being put to flight. The officer and four men of the 369th meanwhile made their escape and returned to their regiment. A captured German report described Sergeant Butler’s activities as “an enemy group in overwhelming numbers” and stated that because of the superiority of the rescuing party eight Germans, including an officer, failed to return. For his heroism on this occasion Sergeant Butler was decorated by both the French and American Governments.