1LT Creswell Garlington, Jr., USA
Class of 1944
Hometown: Savannah, Ga.
- Garlington attended The Citadel for three years before leaving to enlist in the U.S. Army during World War II in 1943. Garlington was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) for extraordinary heroism while serving as a platoon leader in Company I, 335th Infantry Regiment, 84th Infantry Division.
- Garlington's DSC citation records his exceptional leadership and heroism while leading his platoon as follows: "Second Lieutenant Garlington's platoon was temporarily stopped during an attack by the fire of four enemy machine guns approximately three hundred yards away. He crawled forward and with hand grenades eliminated two of the positions while a member of his platoon eliminated the other two. Later the same day, he and one of his men broke up enemy patrols which tried to infiltrate through their lines. On 30 November 1944, during an enemy counterattack, he and four of his men crawled to an advantageous point and killed or wounded sixty of the enemy. On 1 December 1944, Second Lieutenant Garlington carried a wounded member of his platoon through intense enemy artillery fire to a place of safety. While directing the fire of his men, an artillery shell hit approximately ten yards away. While at the aid station he insisted that others less seriously wounded be treated first and tried to show his men the position of a concealed enemy machine gun. Second Lieutenant Garlington's intrepid actions, personal bravery and zealous devotion to duty, exemplify the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States.