Medal of Honor Action Place: Argonne Forest, at Charlevaux, France
Citation
Commanded a battalion which was cut off and surrounded by the enemy and although wounded in the knee by shrapnel on 4 October and suffering great pain, he continued throughout the entire period to encourage his officers and men with a resistless optimism that contributed largely toward preventing panic and disorder among the troops, who were without food, cut off from communication with our lines. On 4 October during a heavy barrage, he personally directed and supervised the moving of the wounded to shelter before himself seeking shelter. On 6 October he was again wounded in the shoulder by a German grenade, but continued personally to organize and direct the defense against the German attack on the position until the attack was defeated. He continued to direct and command his troops, refusing relief, and personally led his men out of the position after assistance arrived before permitting himself to be taken to the hospital on 8 October. During this period the successful defense of the position was due largely to his efforts.
Additional Details
Accredited to: New York, New York
Awarded Posthumously: No
Presentation Date & Details: February 9, 1919 Chaumont, France - presented by General John J. Pershing
Born: November 6, 1876, Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, PA, United States
Died: November 22, 1958, New York, NY, United States
Buried: Ledge Lawn Cemetery, Bar Harbor, ME, United States
Location of Medal:
National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC