Army Distinguished Service Medal

AWARDED FOR ACTIONS DURING World War I

Service: Army

Rank: Lieutenant Colonel

Division: 1st Army, American Expeditionary Forces

GENERAL ORDERS:

War Department, General Orders No. 59 (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 Lieutenant Colonel (Corps of Engineers) Hiram J. Slifer, 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. Lieutenant Colonel Slifer was charged with active field operations and the construction and operation of the light railways of the 1st Army during the St. Mihiel and Argonne-Meuse offensives. His efforts were unceasing, and, due to his resourcefulness and exceptional executive ability, he was an important factor in the successful operations of the light railway, assuring for the troops of the 1st Army a steady flow of munitions and supplies.

Contributor: Rich and Sue (11271253)

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Lieut. Col. Hiram J. Slifer died in France as a member of the American Expeditionary Forces, having been connected with the American Railway Engineers. He was formerly general manager of the Chicago and Great Western Railroad Company, and also at one time was superintendent of the Chicago and Rock Island Railroad Company and was associated with Col. George Goethals in the construction of the Panama Canal. He was one of the twenty-nine upon whom General Pershing conferred the Distinguished Service Medal. Slifer Post of the American Legion of Chicago is named in his honor.

- "The San Francisco Bay Region, Vol. 3" by Bailey Millard; Published by The American Historical Society, Inc., 1924