George H. Mallon

Capturing guns with nine soldiers in France

George H. Mallon was born on June 15, 1877, in Ogden, Kansas. He joined the 22nd Kansas Volunteer Infantry in 1898 and later served in the Philippines with Company K, 12th U.S. Infantry. During World War I, he served as a captain in Company E, 132nd Infantry Regiment, 33rd Division.

On September 26, 1918, fog separated Mallon and nine soldiers from their company at Bois-de-Forges, France. He led them against nine machine guns, capturing the positions without losing a man. They then seized a battery of four howitzers and its crews. At another machine-gun position, Mallon sent men around the flanks while attacking from the front.

His citation credited the party with capturing 100 prisoners, 11 machine guns, four howitzers and an antiaircraft gun. General John Pershing presented his Medal of Honor at Chaumont on February 9, 1919.

Mallon was wounded in the right thigh on October 1, 1918, and was hospitalized in France. France also awarded him the Legion of Honour and the Croix de Guerre with Palm. After the war he returned to Minnesota.

Mallon died on August 2, 1934, in St. Cloud, Minnesota, and is buried at Fort Snelling National Cemetery. His award commemorates determined leadership by a small group in battle.

Medal of Honor Citation

Becoming separated from the balance of his company because of fog, Capt. Mallon, with nine soldiers, pushed forward and attacked nine active and hostile machine guns, capturing all of them without the loss of a man. Continuing on through the woods, he led his men in attacking a battery of four 155-millimeter howitzers, which were in action, rushing the position and capturing the battery and its crews. In this encounter Capt. Mallon personally attacked one of the enemy with his fists.

Later, when the party came upon two more machine guns, this officer sent men to the flanks while he rushed forward directly in the face of the fire and silenced the guns, being the first one of the party to reach the nest. The exceptional gallantry and determination displayed by Capt. Mallon resulted in the capture of 100 prisoners, 11 machine guns, four 155-millimeter howitzers, and one antiaircraft gun.