Corporal Timothy Francis Ahearn of Company C, 102 U.S. Infantry, Twenty Sixth Division, was honored as one who best exemplified the spirit of the enlisted men of the Yankee Division. Near Verdun, France, on October 27, 1918, after all the officers and sergeants of his company had become casualties, he took command of the remnants of the company, reorganized it into a fighting unit, and led his men throughout the rest of the day with great bravery and ability. Later that day, he rescued a wounded officer in the face of heavy machine gun fire, and his country awarded him the Distinguished Service Cross. When he assumed command of his shattered company, he sent this message on the envelope of a letter from his mother to his regimental commander: "Have made two skeleton platoons of four squads apiece. Pvt. Kenney is made Acting First Sergeant. Am ready for any duty I am called upon to perform. Am ready for replacements. Signed T. Ahearn, Corporal, commanding Company C."