Sgt. Co. F, 105th Engineers; son of Mr. and Mrs. Z. A. Hinson, of Charlotte, N.C. Enlisted at Charlotte, N.C., May 7, 1917. Sailed for France May 27th, 1918. Appointed Sgt. 1st class, July 12, 1918. Was in all actions with his regiment and for conspicuous and meritorious bravery in action was awarded the American D. S. C., Nov. 20, 1918. On Nov. 22, 1919, in New York, was decorated by the Prince of Wales with the British Military Medal for the same act. The citation is as follows:
For extraordinary heroism in action on August 27, 1918, Sgt. Hinson was in charge of a platoon, delivering a highly concentrated gas cloud attack against the enemy, when the cloud unexpectedly flared back. After leading the men to a place of safety, this soldier went back into the cloud four times at imminent peril to his own life, collecting and rescuing others who had been overcome. Conducting his platoon through heavy machine-gun fire, he put them in charge of another sergeant with instructions to resume their mission, while he again returned to search for gassed men and found all but two. His excellent leadership and unusual courage prevented many casualties and at the same time effected the completion of an important mission. Home address, Mrs. Della Hinson, 610 E. 7th St., Charlotte, N.C. He is now engaged with the Globe Automatic Refrigerator Co., Louisville, Ky.