Raymond William Tomlinson was born in Baltimore, Maryland on August 7, 1892, and died in January, 1975 in California. He joined the Regular Army July 18, 1917 as a private, promoted to PFC August 20, 1917, apparently demoted to private February 12, 1918, then promoted to Mechanic October 13, 1918.
This is an officially engraved Silver Star to a man who also received the French Croix de Guerre, Purple Heart and Distinguished Service Cross. The location of those medals is unknown.
Mechanic Raymond W. Tomlinson from Baltimore Maryland was awarded the Distinguished Cross by GO No. 24 in 1920 for action in Vaux July 1 to 10, 1918. He was awarded a French Croix de Guerre with silver star for action on October 3, 1918 at Mt. Blanc. In 1932 he applied for an received an officially engraved split brooch Silver Star. The Silver Star is edge numbered 6454 and his DSC (whereabouts unknown) is numbered 5774. The ring suspension of the Silver Star is marked "BBB Phila." Included with the medal is the Silver Star lapel pin. Tomlinson would have been awarded a Purple Heart as well. Note that Tomlinson's rank at the time of his cited actions was Private.
His DSC citation found on the Home of Heroes website reads as follows: "The Distiguished Service Cross is presented to Raymond W. Tomlinson, US Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near Vaux, France, July 1-10, 1918. During the attack on Vaux, Mechanic Tomlinson received a rifle-ball wound in the right knee. Although suffering great pain, he made no mention of his wound. Later in the attack, he assisted in the capture of two officers and five men. During the 9 days that his company continued on duty in the front line Mechanic Tomlinson carried numerous messages to front-line platoons while exposed to heavy artillery and machine-gun fire." This was promulgated by GO No. 24.
His Croix de Guerre citation found in the books "Maryland in the World War 1917-1919" reads as follows: "On October 3, 1918, during the attack on Blanc Mont, he kept up the transmission of messages under violent artillery and machine-gun fire. Two of his comrades having been severely wounded, he administered first aid and remained near them until the arrival of the litter bearors". This book also states that he received the French Fourragere. As of March, 2014 this group has moved on to another collector.
