Earle D. Gregory
Encyclopedia
Earle Davis Gregory was a World War I Medal of Honor
recipient for his heroic actions in 1918 during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive
in France.
, Virginia
on October 18, 1897. He was a 1923 graduate of Virginia Polytechnic Institute (VPI), a member of the VPI Corps of Cadets.
He was a native of Chase City, Virginia
and graduate of Fork Union Military Academy
.
Earle Gregory 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 a 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 Virginia
n 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 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. 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, Medaille Militaire
, and the Montengrin 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.
Citation:
Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
recipient for his heroic actions in 1918 during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive
Meuse-Argonne Offensive
The Meuse-Argonne Offensive, or Maas-Argonne Offensive, also called the Battle of the Argonne Forest, was a part of the final Allied offensive of World War I that stretched along the entire western front.-Overview:...
in France.
Biography
Davis was born in ClayvilleClayville, Virginia
Clayville is an unincorporated community in Powhatan County, in the U.S. state of Virginia.-Reference:...
, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
on October 18, 1897. He was a 1923 graduate of Virginia Polytechnic Institute (VPI), a member of the VPI Corps of Cadets.
He was a native of Chase City, Virginia
Chase City, Virginia
Chase City is a town in Mecklenburg County, Virginia, United States. The population was 2,457 at the 2000 census. Tobacco and other crops are grown nearby...
and graduate of Fork Union Military Academy
Fork Union Military Academy
Fork Union Military Academy is a private, military boarding school located in the town of Fork Union, Virginia. The school is more commonly known by its acronym FUMA ....
.
Earle Gregory entered Virginia Polytechnic Institute in 1919 with the Class of 1923. While at VPI, he studied Electrical Engineering
Electrical engineering
Electrical engineering is a field of engineering that generally deals with the study and application of electricity, electronics and electromagnetism. The field first became an identifiable occupation in the late nineteenth century after commercialization of the electric telegraph and electrical...
. During his senior year, he served as a company commander and President of the Corps of Cadets
Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets
The Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets is the military component of the student body at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Cadets live together in dormitories, march to meals in formation, wear a distinctive uniform on campus, and receive an intensive military and leadership...
. He was voted Most Popular Cadet by his peers during his senor year.
He enlisted at Chase City, Virginia
Chase City, Virginia
Chase City is a town in Mecklenburg County, Virginia, United States. The population was 2,457 at the 2000 census. Tobacco and other crops are grown nearby...
in the U.S. Army during World War I. Earle Gregory received the Medal of Honor
Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
for actions as a U.S. Army sergeant during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive
Meuse-Argonne Offensive
The Meuse-Argonne Offensive, or Maas-Argonne Offensive, also called the Battle of the Argonne Forest, was a part of the final Allied offensive of World War I that stretched along the entire western front.-Overview:...
in World War I. He is considered to be the first Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
n to receive the medal and often called the Sergeant York
Sergeant York
Sergeant York is a 1941 biographical film about the life of Alvin York, the most-decorated American soldier of World War I. It was directed by Howard Hawks and was the highest-grossing film of the year....
of Virginia.
On October 8, 1918, Sgt Earl D. Gregory at Bois-de-Consenvoye, north of Verdun
Verdun
Verdun is a city in the Meuse department in Lorraine in north-eastern France. It is a sub-prefecture of the department.Verdun is the biggest city in Meuse, although the capital of the department is the slightly smaller city of Bar-le-Duc.- History :...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, seized a rifle and trench-mortar shell, which he used as a hand grenade
Hand grenade
A hand grenade is any small bomb that can be thrown by hand. Hand grenades are classified into three categories, explosive grenades, chemical and gas grenades. Explosive grenades are the most commonly used in modern warfare, and are designed to detonate after impact or after a set amount of time...
. Shouting "I will get them", he 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. For this act he received the Medal of Honor
Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
.
Major General Omar Bundy
Omar Bundy
Omar Bundy was a U.S. Army general who participated in the Indian Wars and the Spanish-American War in Cuba, fought in the Philippine Insurrection and the Moro Expedition, and commanded a regiment on the Mexican border...
presented Gregory his medal in a ceremony at Camp Lee, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
on April 29, 1919. He was also awarded the Croix de Guerre
Croix de guerre
The Croix de guerre is a military decoration of France. It was first created in 1915 and consists of a square-cross medal on two crossed swords, hanging from a ribbon with various degree pins. The decoration was awarded during World War I, again in World War II, and in other conflicts...
, Medal of the Legion of Honor, Medaille Militaire
Médaille militaire
The Médaille militaire is a decoration of the French Republic which was first instituted in 1852.-History:The creator of the médaille was the emperor Napoléon III, who may have taken his inspiration in a medal issued by his father, Louis Bonaparte, King of Holland...
, and the Montengrin Order of Merit for his actions during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive
Meuse-Argonne Offensive
The Meuse-Argonne Offensive, or Maas-Argonne Offensive, also called the Battle of the Argonne Forest, was a part of the final Allied offensive of World War I that stretched along the entire western front.-Overview:...
.
On January 6, 1972, Gregory died at his home in Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Tuscaloosa is a city in and the seat of Tuscaloosa County in west central Alabama . Located on the Black Warrior River, it is the fifth-largest city in Alabama, with a population of 90,468 in 2010...
and is buried at the Tuscaloosa Memorial Park. His grave can be found in Section 18, Lot 60.
Honors
The Virginia Tech precision military marching unit, The Gregory Guard, was named in honor of Sgt Gregory on May 1963.Medal of Honor citation
Rank and organization: Sergeant, U.S. Army, Headquarters Company, 116th Infantry, 29th Division. Place and date: At Bois-de-Consenvoye, north of Verdun, France, October 8, 1918. Entered service at: Chase City, Va. Birth: Chase City, Va. G.O. No.: 34, W.D., 1919.Citation:
With the remark "I will get them," Sgt. Gregory seized a rifle and a trench-mortar shell, which he used as a handgrenade, left his detachment of the trench-mortar platoon, and advancing ahead of the infantry, captured a machinegun and 3 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.
See also
- List of Medal of Honor recipients
- List of Medal of Honor recipients for World War I