Congressional Medal of Honor Society

Stories of Sacrifice

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World War I - U.S. Army

Marcellus Holmes Chiles

Details
  • Rank: Captain
  • Conflict/Era: World War I
  • Unit/Command:
    Company A, 356th Infantry,
    89th Division
  • Military Service Branch: U.S. Army
  • Medal of Honor Action Date: November 3, 1918
  • Medal of Honor Action Place: near Le Champy Bas, France
Citation
When his battalion, of which he had just taken command, was halted by machine-gun fire from the front and left flank, he picked up the rifle of a dead soldier and, calling on his men to follow, led the advance across a stream, waist deep, in the face of the machine-gun fire. Upon reaching the opposite bank this gallant officer was seriously wounded in the abdomen by a sniper, but before permitting himself to be evacuated he made complete arrangements for turning over his command to the next senior officer, and under the inspiration of his fearless leadership, his battalion reached its objective. Capt. Chiles died shortly after reaching the hospital.
Additional Details
  • Accredited to: Denver, Denver County, Colorado
  • Awarded Posthumously: Yes
  • Presentation Date & Details: April 15, 1919
  • Born: February 5, 1895, Eureka Springs, Carroll County, AR, United States
  • Died: November 5, 1918, France
  • Buried: Meuse-Argonne Cemetery (MH) (C-21-23), Romagne Meuse, France
 

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