Marcellus H. Chiles
Encyclopedia
Marcellus Holms Chiles was an American
soldier
serving in the United States Army
who received the Medal of Honor
for his actions during World War I
.
, to John Horne Chiles. He later moved to Denver, Colorado
, where his father worked as a lawyer
. He was a student at Colorado College
when World War I began. After attending an officers' training camp, he was appointed a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army in August 1917.
Promoted to first lieutenant in January 1918, Chiles was sent to Europe with the 356th Infantry Regiment, 89th Division later that year. He first saw action at the Saint-Mihiel
salient in northeast France
in August 1918. On November 3, four days after being promoted to captain, Chiles participated in an advance near Le Champy Bas as part of the Meuse-Argonne Offensive
. In command of a battalion
, he oversaw an attack against a large German
force, leading his men through a waist-deep stream despite intense machine gun
fire. Wounded during the water crossing, Chiles continued to crawl after his troops after reaching the stream bank. After turning over command of the battalion, he was evacuated to a hospital, where he died on November 5. For these actions, he received the Distinguished Service Cross
; the award was upgraded to the Medal of Honor the next year.
Chiles, aged 23 at his death, is buried at the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery near Romagne-sous-Montfaucon
, France.
Citation:
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
soldier
Soldier
A soldier is a member of the land component of national armed forces; whereas a soldier hired for service in a foreign army would be termed a mercenary...
serving in the United States Army
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...
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
Chiles was born in Eureka Springs, ArkansasEureka Springs, Arkansas
Eureka Springs is a city in Carroll County, Arkansas, United States. Along with Berryville, it is one of the two county seats for the county. It is located in the Ozark Mountains of northwest Arkansas. According to 2006 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the town is 2,350...
, to John Horne Chiles. He later moved to Denver, Colorado
Denver, Colorado
The City and County of Denver is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Denver is a consolidated city-county, located in the South Platte River Valley on the western edge of the High Plains just east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains...
, where his father worked as a lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
. He was a student at Colorado College
Colorado College
The Colorado College is a private liberal arts college in Colorado Springs, Colorado, United States, in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. It was founded in 1874 by Thomas Nelson Haskell...
when World War I began. After attending an officers' training camp, he was appointed a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army in August 1917.
Promoted to first lieutenant in January 1918, Chiles was sent to Europe with the 356th Infantry Regiment, 89th Division later that year. He first saw action at the Saint-Mihiel
Saint-Mihiel
Saint-Mihiel is a commune in the Meuse department in Lorraine in north-eastern France.-History:Saint-Mihiel was captured by the Germans in the first year of World War I, and was re-captured during the Battle of Saint-Mihiel from 12 September to 19 September 1918, during World War...
salient in northeast 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...
in August 1918. On November 3, four days after being promoted to captain, Chiles participated in an advance near Le Champy Bas as part of 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 command of a battalion
Battalion
A battalion is a military unit of around 300–1,200 soldiers usually consisting of between two and seven companies and typically commanded by either a Lieutenant Colonel or a Colonel...
, he oversaw an attack against a large German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
force, leading his men through a waist-deep stream despite intense 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. Wounded during the water crossing, Chiles continued to crawl after his troops after reaching the stream bank. After turning over command of the battalion, he was evacuated to a hospital, where he died on November 5. For these actions, he received the Distinguished Service Cross
Distinguished Service Cross (United States)
The Distinguished Service Cross is the second highest military decoration that can be awarded to a member of the United States Army, for extreme gallantry and risk of life in actual combat with an armed enemy force. Actions that merit the Distinguished Service Cross must be of such a high degree...
; the award was upgraded to the Medal of Honor the next year.
Chiles, aged 23 at his death, is buried at the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery near Romagne-sous-Montfaucon
Romagne-sous-Montfaucon
Romagne-sous-Montfaucon is a commune in the Meuse department in Lorraine in north-eastern France.-See also:The nearby U.S cemetery is the largest for the First World War.*Communes of the Meuse department...
, France.
Medal of Honor citation
Rank and organization: Captain, U.S. Army, 356th Infantry, 89th Division. Place and date: Near Le Champy Bas, France, 3 November 1918. Entered service at: Denver, Colo. Birth: Eureka Springs, Ark. G.O. No.: 20, W.D., 1919.Citation:
When his battalion, of which he had just taken command, was halted by machinegun fire from the front and left flank, he picked up the rifle of a dead soldier and, calling on his men to follow led the advance across a stream, waist deep, in the face of the machinegun fire. Upon reaching the opposite bank this gallant officer was seriously wounded in the abdomen by a sniper, but before permitting himself to be evacuated he made complete arrangements for turning over his command to the next senior officer, and under the inspiration of his fearless leadership his battalion reached its objective. Capt. Chiles died shortly after reaching the hospital.
See also
- List of Medal of Honor recipients for World War I