Junius Diggs
Junius Diggs’ Personal Narrative was derived from information found in public records, military personnel files, and local/state historical association materials. Please note that the Robb Centre never fully closes the book on our servicemembers; as new information becomes available, narratives will be updated to appropriately represent the life story of each veteran.
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Military Honor(s):
Distinguished Service Cross
Citation: The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Private Junius Diggs (ASN: 1871496), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company G, 371st Infantry Regiment, 93d Division, A.E.F., near Ardeuil, France, 30 September 1918. After his company had been forced to withdraw from an advanced position under severe machine-gun and artillery fire, Private Diggs went forward and rescued wounded soldiers, working persistently until all of them had been carried to shelter.
Croix de Guerre with Bronze Palm
Citation: French Croix de Guerre with Palm under Order No. 16.704 “D”, dated April 24, 1919.
Medaille Militaire 3R
Life & Service
- Birth: 4 October 1895, Lilesville, NC, United States
- Place of Residence:
- Race/Ethnicity: African American
- Death: 20 September 1925 Lilesville, NC, United States
- Branch: Army
- Military Rank: Private First Class
- Company: [G]
- Infantry Regiment: 371st
- Division: 93rd
Junius was born to Henry (1862-1945) and Phillis Pratt (1865-1929) on 8 October 1896, the fifth of thirteen children; James (1885-1973), Joseph (1888-?), William (1888-1962), Frank (1893-1966), Henry (1896-1969), Carrie (1897-1926), Chester (1897-1963), Ella (1899-?), Doctor (1902-1989), John (1905-?), MaryLee (1906-?), and Nolan (1910-1989). Junius was born and raised on a farm in Lilesville, Anson County, North Carolina, where he worked as a laborer from a young age.
Junius was drafted into service on 24 February 1918 at Camp Jackson, Chesterfield, South Carolina. Private Diggs and his company left Newport News, Virginia on the U.S. Army Transport Ship President Grant on 7 April 1918 arriving in Brest, France, on 13 April. Private Diggs received the Distinguished Service Cross and French Croix de Guerre with Palm for his actions on 30 September 1918, near Ardeuil, France;
“The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Private Junius Diggs (ASN: 1871496), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company G, 371st Infantry Regiment, 93d Division, A.E.F., near Ardeuil, France, 30 September 1918. After his company had been forced to withdraw from an advanced position under severe machine-gun and artillery fire, Private Diggs went forward and rescued wounded soldiers, working persistently until all of them had been carried to shelter”. Awarded DSC by CG, AEF, December 10, 1918. Published in C.O. No. 46, W.D. 1919.
French Medaille Militarie, by Presidential Decree of May 14, 1919.
French Croix de Guerre with Palm under Order No. 16.704 “D”, dated April 24, 1919.
Private Diggs and his company left Brest, France on the U.S. Army Transport Ship U.S.S. Leviathan on 3 February 1919 arriving in the United States on 9 February. Private Diggs was Honorably Discharged from the U.S. Army on 22 February 1919.
Junius married Caroline (Smith) (1902-?) on 9 September 1922 in Wadesboro Township, North Carolina. Sometime between 1922-1925, Junius divorced, and married Beatrice (maiden name unknown) (?-?), he had no children in either marriage. Junius died of Pulmonary Tuberculosis, which he had been suffering from since 1920, at his home in North Carolina on 20 September 1925.
