McMURTRY, GEORGE G. - Medal of Honor Recipient
Rank and organization: Captain, U.S. Army, 308th Infantry, 77th Division.
Place and date: At Charlevaux, in the forest of Argonne, France, 2-8 October
1918. Entered service at: New York, N.Y. Born: 6 November 1876, Pittsburgh,
Pa. G.O. No.: 118, W.D., 1918. 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.
This data was extracted from the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, U.S. Senate, Medal of Honor Recipients: 1863-1973 (Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1973)
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