Major George G. McMurtry (Executive Officer of the "Lost Battalion")

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_G._McMurtry

George Gibson McMurtry (November 6, 1876–November 22, 1958) was an officer in United States Army who received the Medal of Honor as the executive officer of the Lost Battalion during World War I.

[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lost_Battalion_%28World_War_I%29 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lost_Battalion_(World_War_I)]

Biography

Prior to World War I, McMurtry fought in Theodore Roosevelt's Rough Riders during the Spanish-American War and participated in the Battle of San Juan Hill. When the Rough Riders were disbanded, he returned to Harvard College, graduating in 1899. Like Charles Whittlesey, he was also a Wall Street lawyer. He would later make millions of dollars in the stock market after the war.

Medal of Honor citation

Rank and organization: Captain, U.S. Army, 308th Infantry, 77th Division.

Place and date: Charlevaux, in the forest of Argonne, France, 2-October 8, 1918.

Entered service at:New York, New York.

Born:November 6, 1876, Pittsburgh, Pa

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.