World War I
George G. McMurtry
Captain · U.S. Army
U.S. Army, 308th Infantry, 77th Division
2-8 October 1918 · Charlevaux, in the forest of Argonne, France
Public domain. American Expeditionary Force Source file
- Branch
- U.S. Army
- Era
- World War I
- Home state
- New York
- Action
- The Lost Battalion in the Argonne
The citation
Official 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.
Sources
- U.S. Army Medal of Honor citation index
- Wikipedia. Linked only. The article text is not copied here.
