Rank Sergeant Name Earle Gregory | Education Virginia Tech | |
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Born October 18, 1897Clayville, Virginia ( 1897-10-18 ) Allegiance United States of America Battles/wars World War IMeuse-Argonne Offensive Awards Medal of HonorPurple HeartWorld War I Victory MedalMexican Border Service MedalCroix de guerreLegion d'honneurMedaille militaireCroce al Merito di GuerraMedaille pour la bravoure militaire Battles and wars World War I, Meuse-Argonne Offensive Unit Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 116th Infantry Regiment, 29th Infantry Division | ||
Earle Davis Gregory (October 18, 1897 – January 6, 1972) was a World War I Medal of Honor recipient for his heroic actions in 1918 during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive in France.
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Biography
Earle Davis Gregory was born in Clayville, Virginia on October 18, 1897. He was a 1923 graduate of Virginia Polytechnic Institute (VPI), a member of the VPI Corps of Cadets.
Gregory was raised in Chase City, Virginia and graduated from Fork Union Military Academy. He entered Virginia Polytechnic Institute in 1919 with the Class of 1923. While at VPI, he studied Electrical Engineering. During his senior year, he served as Alpha company commander and President of the Corps of Cadets. He was voted Most Popular Cadet by his peers during his senor year.
He enlisted at Chase City, Virginia in the U.S. Army during World War I. Earle Gregory received the Medal of Honor for actions as a U.S. Army sergeant during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive in World War I. He is considered to be the first Virginian to receive the medal and often called the Sergeant York of Virginia. On October 8, 1918, Sgt Earl D. Gregory at Bois-de-Consenvoye, north of Verdun, France, seized a rifle and trench-mortar shell, which he used as a hand grenade. Shouting "I will get them", he left his detachment of the trench-mortar platoon, and advancing ahead of the infantry, captured a machine gun and three of the enemy. Advancing still farther from the machinegun nest, he captured a 7.5-centimeter mountain howitzer and, entering a dugout in the immediate vicinity, single-handedly captured 19 of the enemy. For this act he received the Medal of Honor.
Major General Omar Bundy presented Gregory his medal in a ceremony at Camp Lee, Virginia on April 29, 1919. He was also awarded the Croix de guerre, Medal of the Legion of Honor, Médaille militaire, and the Montenegrin Order of Merit for his actions during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive.
On January 6, 1972, Gregory died at his home in Tuscaloosa, Alabama and is buried at the Tuscaloosa Memorial Park. His grave can be found in Section 18, Lot 60.
Military awards and other honors
Sgt Gregory's awards include the Medal of Honor, Purple Heart, World War I Victory Medal with Meuse-Argonne and Defensive Sector Army battle clasps, The French Croix de guerre, the French Legion of Honor, the French Médaille militaire, Montenegrin Medal of Military Bravery, Cross of Military Service of the United Daughters of the Confederacy
Medal of Honor citation
General Orders: War Department, General Orders No. 34 (March 7, 1919)
"The President of the United States in the name of The Congress takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to
UNITED STATES ARMY
for service as set forth in the following CITATION:
For extraordinary heroism on 8 October 1918, while serving with Headquarters Company, 116th Infantry, 29th Division, in action at Bois-de-Consenvoye, France. With the remark "I will get them," Sergeant Gregory seized a rifle and a trench-mortar shell, which he used as a hand grenade, left his detachment of the trench-mortar platoon, and advancing ahead of the infantry, captured a machinegun and three of the enemy. Advancing still farther from the machinegun nest, he captured a 7.5-centimeter mountain howitzer and, entering a dugout in the immediate vicinity, single-handedly captured 19 of the enemy.
/S/ WOODROW WILSON"
The Gregory Guard
The Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets precision military marching unit, The Gregory Guard, was named in honor of Sgt Gregory in May 1963.