A First War American Silver Star Group to 1st Lieut. Hudson for Night Rescue Mission

Silver Star (bronze gilt with a silver star affixed to the centre on the obverse, number impressed "35460" on the edge, engraved in capitals "ROBERT G HUDSON" on the reverse, BB&B (Bailey, Banks & Biddle, Philadelphia) type, 34 mm x 34.2 mm, original ribbon with brooch pinback, with Ribbon Bar); First World War Victory Medal, 3 Clasps - DEFENSIVE SECTOR, MEUSE-ARGONNE, ST. MIHIEL, with two Bronze Stars (bronze, 36 mm, original ribbon with brooch pinback, position for a third previously positioned bronze star evident on the ribbon, the star having been lost to time); France: War Cross (Croix de Guerre) 1914-1918 with Bronze Palm (bronze, 37.2 mm, original ribbon with dual prong pinback); and YMCA Medal (gold-plated bronze, obverse illustrating the Young Men's Christian Association insignia in the centre, inscribed "YMCA" above, surrounded an open-ended wreath composed of laurel leaves at the left and oak leaves at the right, reverse maker marked "ROB. STOLL N.Y." and engraved in running script "Awarded First / to Gordon Hudson / Senior Class Athletic Meet / Montgomery Y.M.C.A. 1914", 34.9 mm x 40 mm, integral loop). Extremely fine. Accompanied by assorted research papers. Footnote: 1st Lieutenant Robert G. Hudson, Company C, 354th Infantry, 89th Division was awarded the Silver Star, for actions he took on October 18, 1918. His official citation, as issued from Headquarters, 89th Division, dated May 7, 1919, states: "On the night of October 18, 1918, word was received that an officer had either been wounded or killed some distance in front of our most advanced positions in the Bois de Bantheville. He led a patrol on the hazardous mission of searching for this officer, and altho (sic) well aware of the extreme danger of being captured or losing his life, he totally disregarded his own personal safety in his zeal to accomplish his mission.", with an additional mention: "The example of unhesitating devotion to duty, disregard of personal safety and high order of courage displayed by these officers and soldiers is worthy of commendation, and the Division Commander takes great pleasure in publishing to the command this evidence of appreciation., By Command of Major General Winn, Colonel John H. Lee, General Staff, Chief of Staff". The actual incident is documented in detail in the 89th Division's history. The 89th Division's G-3, Lieutenant Colonel Levi G. Brown, accompanied by his orderly, Private Charles Garrison, was wandering around on horseback far in advance of the American lines. Fired on by German machine guns, Brown's horse was killed and Garrison's bolted toward the German lines. Now without a horse, Private Garrison, although wounded, made it back to the American troops, while Lieutenant Colonel Brown was captured. In spite of his wounds, Private Garrison accompanied 1st Lieutenant Hudson's fruitless but dangerous rescue mission, with both receiving Silver Star citations for their efforts. Lieutenant Colonel Brown was a Prisoner of War for only a month, but after the Armistice, was still kept under guard with restrictions, eventually walking out of the prison camp and making his way to Switzerland. He rejoined the 89th Division just before Christmas. In addition to the Silver Star, 1st Lieutenant Hudson was awarded the French War Cross (Croix de Guerre) 1914-1918 with Bronze Palm, under Order No. 16.936 "D", dated April 30, 1919, "For act in Aug. 1918". The Silver Star itself was not awarded to him until April 28, 1943, almost twenty-four years after the citation was issued from Headquarters, 89th Division. First World War National Army Silver Stars are scarce, as most of them were not claimed when the medal was authorized in 1932, as the recipients were no longer associated with the military. Additionally, while the Regular Army divisions were awarded many thousands of Silver Stars citations, divisions such as the 89th, although in the top half in casualties, cited very few.