George Dilboy

Charging a machine gun near Belleau

George Dilboy was born on February 5, 1896, in the Greek community of Alatsata in Asia Minor, now Turkey. His family immigrated to the United States during his childhood and settled in New England. He fought with Greek forces in the Balkan Wars, served in the New Hampshire National Guard and enlisted in the U.S. Army for World War I.

A private first class in Company H, 103rd Infantry, 26th Division, Dilboy fought near Belleau, France, on July 18, 1918. When machine-gun fire struck his platoon's reconnaissance party, he charged the emplacement. Gravely wounded, he continued firing from the ground, killing two defenders and dispersing the others.

He died that day and received a posthumous Medal of Honor. His remains were ultimately reinterred at Arlington National Cemetery in November 1923. A bust outside Somerville City Hall commemorates his service and sacrifice.

Medal of Honor Citation

After his platoon had gained its objective along a railroad embankment, Pfc. Dilboy, accompanying his platoon leader to reconnoiter the ground beyond, was suddenly fired upon by an enemy machine gun from 100 yards.

From a standing position on the railroad track, fully exposed to view, he opened fire at once, but failing to silence the gun, rushed forward with his bayonet fixed, through a wheat field toward the gun emplacement, falling within 25 yards of the gun with his right leg nearly severed above the knee and with several bullet holes in his body. With undaunted courage he continued to fire into the emplacement from a prone position, killing two of the enemy and dispersing the rest of the crew.