John C. Villepigue
Encyclopedia
John Canty Villepigue was a S.C. National Guard 118th Infantry Regiment, 30th Infantry Division, United States Army
Corporal who received the Medal of Honor
for his actions during World War I
.
General John Bordenave Villepigue
, and like John Bordenave Villepigue he was born and raised in Camden, South Carolina
. Kershaw County, South Carolina, in which Camden is located, has a rich military history, and was home to several war heroes from different wars.
Villepigue entered the army in Camden, assigned to Company M, 118th Infantry, 30th Division. While fighting near Vaux-Andigny
, France
, on October 15, 1918, Villepigue and two other soldiers were ordered to scout through the village of Vaux-Andigny. During their trek through the village, they were ambushed by German
machine gun
fire, which killed one of his fellow soldiers, and wounded the other. Advancing forward on his own for more than 500 yards, with his platoon
left far behind, Villepigue encountered four enemy soldiers manning the machine gun pit. He engaged them with handgrenade, killing them. Crawling another 150 yards forward, he encountered a second machine gun pit, which he rushed, alone, killing another four enemy soldiers and capturing another six, along with securing two machine guns. He had been badly wounded in the arm during this action, from which he would later die on April 18, 1919.
Villepigue was buried near John B. Villepigue in the "Old Quaker Cemetery
", in his hometown of Camden, South Carolina. That cemetery also maintains the grave of fellow World War I Medal of Honor recipient Richmond Hobson Hilton
, the graves of Civil War Confederate Generals Joseph B. Kershaw
and John Doby Kennedy
, as well as Confederate soldier and hero from the Battle of Fredericksburg
, Richard Rowland Kirkland
. In 2004 Villepigue was honored by the South Carolina House of Representatives
for his heroism during World War I.
Citation:
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
Corporal who 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 his actions during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
.
Biography
Villepigue was a descendent of Confederate States ArmyConfederate States Army
The Confederate States Army was the army of the Confederate States of America while the Confederacy existed during the American Civil War. On February 8, 1861, delegates from the seven Deep South states which had already declared their secession from the United States of America adopted the...
General John Bordenave Villepigue
John Bordenave Villepigue
John Bordenave Villepigue was a career U.S. Army officer who served on the Western Frontier and became a Confederate general in the American Civil War...
, and like John Bordenave Villepigue he was born and raised in Camden, South Carolina
Camden, South Carolina
Camden is the fourth oldest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina and is also the county seat of Kershaw County, South Carolina, United States. The population was an estimated 7,103 in 2009...
. Kershaw County, South Carolina, in which Camden is located, has a rich military history, and was home to several war heroes from different wars.
Villepigue entered the army in Camden, assigned to Company M, 118th Infantry, 30th Division. While fighting near Vaux-Andigny
Vaux-Andigny
Vaux-Andigny is a commune in the Aisne department in Picardy in northern France.-Population:-References:*...
, 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...
, on October 15, 1918, Villepigue and two other soldiers were ordered to scout through the village of Vaux-Andigny. During their trek through the village, they were ambushed by German
German Empire
The German Empire refers to Germany during the "Second Reich" period from the unification of Germany and proclamation of Wilhelm I as German Emperor on 18 January 1871, to 1918, when it became a federal republic after defeat in World War I and the abdication of the Emperor, Wilhelm II.The German...
machine gun
Machine gun
A machine gun is a fully automatic mounted or portable firearm, usually designed to fire rounds in quick succession from an ammunition belt or large-capacity magazine, typically at a rate of several hundred rounds per minute....
fire, which killed one of his fellow soldiers, and wounded the other. Advancing forward on his own for more than 500 yards, with his platoon
Platoon
A platoon is a military unit typically composed of two to four sections or squads and containing 16 to 50 soldiers. Platoons are organized into a company, which typically consists of three, four or five platoons. A platoon is typically the smallest military unit led by a commissioned officer—the...
left far behind, Villepigue encountered four enemy soldiers manning the machine gun pit. He engaged them with handgrenade, killing them. Crawling another 150 yards forward, he encountered a second machine gun pit, which he rushed, alone, killing another four enemy soldiers and capturing another six, along with securing two machine guns. He had been badly wounded in the arm during this action, from which he would later die on April 18, 1919.
Villepigue was buried near John B. Villepigue in the "Old Quaker Cemetery
Old Quaker Cemetery
Old Quaker Cemetery is a cemetery located in Camden, South Carolina, in Kershaw County. It dates back to the earliest days of Camden, which was first settled in 1730, and is the oldest inland city in South Carolina...
", in his hometown of Camden, South Carolina. That cemetery also maintains the grave of fellow World War I Medal of Honor recipient Richmond Hobson Hilton
Richmond H. Hilton
Richmond Hobson Hilton was a S.C. National Guard 118th Infantry Regiment, 30th Infantry Division, U.S. Army Sergeant during World War I, and a Medal of Honor recipient—the first of two from Kershaw County, South Carolina to be awarded the medal during that war...
, the graves of Civil War Confederate Generals Joseph B. Kershaw
Joseph B. Kershaw
Joseph Brevard Kershaw was a lawyer, judge, and a Confederate general in the American Civil War.-Early life:...
and John Doby Kennedy
John Doby Kennedy
John Doby Kennedy was a general in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War, as well as a post-war planter, attorney, politician, and Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina.-Early life and career:...
, as well as Confederate soldier and hero from the Battle of Fredericksburg
Battle of Fredericksburg
The Battle of Fredericksburg was fought December 11–15, 1862, in and around Fredericksburg, Virginia, between General Robert E. Lee's Confederate Army of Northern Virginia and the Union Army of the Potomac, commanded by Maj. Gen. Ambrose E. Burnside...
, Richard Rowland Kirkland
Richard Rowland Kirkland
Richard Rowland Kirkland, known as "The Angel of Marye's Heights", was a Confederate Army soldier during the American Civil War, noted for his bravery and humanitarian actions during the Battle of Fredericksburg....
. In 2004 Villepigue was honored by the South Carolina House of Representatives
South Carolina House of Representatives
The South Carolina House of Representatives is the lower house of the South Carolina General Assembly, the upper house being the South Carolina Senate. It consists of 124 Representatives elected to two year terms at the same time as US Congressional elections...
for his heroism during World War I.
Medal of Honor citation
Rank and organization: Corporal, U.S. Army, Company M, 118th Infantry, 30th Division. Place and date: At Vaux-Andigny, France, October 15, 1918. Entered service at. Camden, S.C. Born: March 29, 1896, Camden, S.C. G.O. No.: 16, W.D., 1919.Citation:
Having been sent out with 2 other soldiers to scout through the village of Vaux-Andigny, he met with strong resistance from enemy machinegun fire, which killed 1 of his men and wounded the other. Continuing his advance without aid 500 yards in advance of his platoon and in the face of machinegun and artillery fire he encountered 4 of the enemy in a dugout, whom he attacked and killed with a handgrenade. Crawling forward to a point 150 yards in advance of his first encounter, he rushed a machinegun nest, killing 4 and capturing 6 of the enemy and taking 2 light machineguns. After being joined by his platoon he was severely wounded in the arm.