Congressional Medal of Honor Society
Stories of Sacrifice
World War I - U.S. Army
James Davidson Heriot
Details
- Rank: Corporal
- Conflict/Era: World War I
- Unit/Command:
Company I, 118th Infantry,
30th Divsion - Military Service Branch: U.S. Army
- Medal of Honor Action Date: October 12, 1918
- Medal of Honor Action Place: Vaux-Andigny, France
Citation
Cpl. Heriot, with four other soldiers, organized a combat group and attacked an enemy machine-gun nest which had been inflicting heavy casualties on his company. In the advance two of his men were killed, and because of the heavy fire from all sides the remaining two sought shelter. Unmindful of the hazard attached to his mission, Cpl. Heriot, with fixed bayonet, alone charged the machine gun, making his way through the fire for a distance of 30 yards and forcing the enemy to surrender. During this exploit he received several wounds in the arm, and later in the same day, while charging another nest, he was killed.
Additional Details
- Accredited to: Providence, South Carolina
- Awarded Posthumously: Yes
- Presentation Date & Details: February 22, 1919
Presented to his mother, Mrs. Carrie C. Heriot, at the home of Mrs. H.T. Abbott in Sumter, SC, by Major General Henry G. Sharpe
- Born: November 2, 1890, Providence, SC, United States
- Died: October 12, 1918, France
- Buried: Rembert Methodist Church Cemetery (PM), Woodrow, SC, United States
- Location of Medal: Camden Archives & Museum, Camden, SC