Pvt. Ernest G. Bozenhart served in the 147th Infantry Regiment, 37th Division during World War I. Born in Toledo, Ohio in March 1889, Bozenhart was of German descent and the youngest in his family. He joined the Ohio National Guard at 18 years old and fought in the Mexican Punitive Expedition against the army of Pancho Villa.

With the declaration of war on Germany, the 37th Ohio National Guard Division was formed. Because of political tensions, Bozenhart changed his Germanic last name from “Botzenhardt” to “Bozenhart.”

Bozenhart received the Distinguished Service Cross on September 29, 1918, for extraordinary heroism while making his way through artillery and machine-gun fire to provide medical treatment to the wounded. He assisted in bringing the wounded to safety, forwarding them to the first aid station.

On October 31, during the Ypres-Lys Offensive, Bozenhart was wounded by an artillery shell and died the next day in a field hospital.

Awards: Distinguished Service Cross