World War I Medal of Honor Recipients
These individuals earned the Navy Medal of Honor during the period specified. Their names are followed by their rank and rate, if known, the date of the action and the vessel or unit on which they served. |
| U.S. Navy Recipients (select name for complete citation) |
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| U.S. Marine Corps Recipients |
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U.S. Navy recipients of the Medal of Honor, World War I
Pharmacist's Mate First Class John H. Balch United States Navy
For gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty with the 6th Regiment, United States Marines, in action at Vierzy on 19 July 1918. Petty Officer Balch unhesitatingly and fearlessly exposed himself to terrific machine-gun and high-explosive fire to succor the wounded as they fell in the attack, leaving his dressing station voluntarily and keeping up the work all day and late into the night unceasingly for 16 hours. Also in the action at Somme-Py on 5 October 1918, he exhibited exceptional bravery in establishing an advanced dressing station under heavy shellfire. Petty Officer Balch's exceptional abilities, uncommon foresight, and impressive devotion to duty reflected great credit upon himself and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
Lieutenant Joel T. Boone Medical Corps United States Navy
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving with the 6th Regiment, United States Marines, in actual conflict with the enemy at and in the vicinity of Vierzy, France on 19 July 1918. With absolute disregard for personal safety, ever conscious and mindful of the suffering fallen, Lieutenant Boone, leaving the shelter of a ravine, went forward onto the open field where there was no protection and, despite the extreme enemy fire of all calibers, through a heavy mist of gas, applied dressings and first aid to wounded Marines. This occurred Southeast of Vierzy, near the cemetery, and on the road south from that town. When the dressings and supplies had been exhausted, he went through a heavy barrage of large-caliber shell, both high explosive and gas, to replenish these supplies, returning quickly with a sidecar load, and administered them in saving the lives of the wounded. A second trip, under the same conditions and for the same purpose, was made by Lieutenant Boone later that day. By his inspiring valor, steadfast perseverance, and selfless dedication to duty, Lieutenant Boone reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
Hospital Apprentice First Class David E. Hayden United States Navy
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty-while serving with the 2d Battalion, 6th Regiment, United States Marines, Thiaucourt, France on 14 September 1918. During the advance when Corporal Creed was mortally wounded while crossing an open field swept by machine-gun fire, Petty Officer Hayden unhesitatingly ran to his assistance and finding him so severely wounded as to require immediate attention, disregarded his own personal safety to dress the wound under intense machinegun fire, and then carried the wounded man back to safety. By his extraordinary courage, steadfast perseverance, and total devotion to duty, Petty Officer Hayden reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
Lieutenant Commander Alexander Gordon Lyle Dental Corps United States Navy
For extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty while serving with the Fifth Regiment, United States Marines. Under heavy shellfire, on 23 April 1918, on the French Front, Lieutenant Commander Lyle rushed to the assistance of Corporal Thomas Regan, who was seriously wounded, and administered such effective surgical aid while bombardment was still continuing, as to save the life of Corporal Regan.
Lieutenant (Junior Grade) Weedon E. Osborne United States Navy
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while attached to the Fifth Regiment, United States Marines, in actual conflict with the enemy and under fire during the advance on Bouresche, France on 6 June 1918. In the hottest of the fighting when the Marines made their famous advance on Bouresche at the southern edge of Belleau Wood, Lieutenant (jg) Osborne threw himself zealously into the work of rescuing the wounded. Extremely courageous in the performance of this perilous task, he was killed while carrying a wounded officer to a place of safety. By his exceptional fortitude, inspiring initiative, and selfless devotion to duty, Lieutenant (jg) Osborne reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.
Lieutenant Orlando H. Petty Medical Corps United States Navy
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving with the Fifth Regiment, United States marines, in France during the attack in the Boise de Belleau on 11 June 1918. While under heavy fire of high explosive and gas shells in the town of Lucy, where his dressing station was located, Lieutenant Petty attended to and evacuated the wounded under most trying conditions. Having been knocked to the ground by an exploding gas shell which tore his mask, Lieutenant Petty discarded the mask and courageously continued his work. His dressing station being hit and demolished, he personally helped carry Captain Williams, wounded, through the shellfire to a place of safety. By his inspiring valor, steadfast perseverance, and selfless dedication to duty, Lieutenant Petty reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
Gunner’s Mate First Class Osmond K. Ingraham United States Navy
USS Cassin was in one of the early groups of destroyers to reach Queenstown, Ireland (on 17 May 1917) and quickly commenced search and escort operations. On 15 October 1917, Cassin sighted the German submarine U-61 about 20 nautical miles south of Ireland and gave pursuit. U-61 fired a torpedo at Cassin that would have missed had it not broached twice, veering to the left each time it came out of the water.
Observing the torpedo heading for the port stern, Petty Officer Ingraham ran toward the depth charge racks and attempted to jettison depth charges overboard. He was killed in the explosion of the torpedo, which detonated several depth charges (thus becoming the first U.S. Navy enlisted man killed by enemy action during the war). The torpedo actually struck above the waterline. Somewhat miraculously, no one else aboard was killed and only nine wounded (the ship’s doctor would later die due to effects of exposure). With extensive damage to her stern and her rudder blown off, the circling Cassin nevertheless continued to fire on the submarine with her deck guns, hitting the conning tower and driving the submarine under, which then did not press the attack. Guarded overnight by the USS Porter (DD-59) and two British sloops, Cassin was taken in tow by the British sloop HMS Snowdrop. Cassin was subsequently repaired and returned to duty in July 1918. Ingraham was credited with preventing much more serious damage or loss of the ship and was awarded a posthumous Medal of Honor.
U-56 was a highly successful U-boat, sinking 32 Allied ships and damaging nine more, before going missing in March 1918. One of the damaged ships was the freighter USS Santee (converted to a Q-ship—a covertly armed merchant ship), which, after being struck by a torpedo, attempted lure the U-boat to the surface with a “panic party” of crewmen in a lifeboat simulating a disorderly abandon ship in the hope of surprising and engaging the U-boat with guns. The U-56 didn’t fall for it. Cassin would be sold for scrap in 1934. The USS Osmond Ingraham(DD-255) would be commissioned in 1919 (the first U.S. Navy destroyer named for an enlisted man) and, during World War II, as part of the USS Bogue (CVE-9) hunter-killer group, she would sink U-172 with gunfire and be awarded a Presidential Unit Citation, earning six battle stars in the Atlantic and Pacific.
Ensign Daniel Augustus Joseph Sullivan, USNRF
For extraordinary heroism as an officer of the U. S. S. Christabel in conflict with an enemy submarine on 21 May 1918. As a result of the explosion of a depth bomb dropped near the submarine, the Christabel was so badly shaken that a number of depth charges which had been set for firing were thrown about the deck and there was imminent danger that they would explode. Ensign Sullivan immediately fell on the depth charges and succeeded in securing them, thus saving the ship from disaster, which would inevitably have caused great loss of life.
