12SEPT1918: Emigrating from Mexico to the US in 1916, Marcelino Serna enlisted in the Army as he faced deportation. Fighting with the 89th Division in the Meuse-Argonne offensive of WWI, PVT Serna spotted a German sniper engaging his unit. Risking his life by placing himself in range of the sniper, Serna took up his rifle and began firing back at the sniper, wounding him after a few shots. The enemy sniper ceased firing and started to maneuver back to German lines for medical treatment. Quietly following the wounded sniper, Serna crept along as the sniper entered the nearest German trench, giving away their position. Moving right up against the trench, Serna began lobbing grenades into the enemy position and in short order killed 26 German soldiers. Seeing the damage being done to their peers, another 24 Germans promptly surrendered. Serna marched his German prisoners back to American lines and for this action would be awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, the first Mexican-American to receive the award.

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