Harold Arthur Furlong

Silencing four machine guns near Bantheville

Harold Arthur Furlong was born on August 1, 1895, in Pontiac, Michigan. He served as a first lieutenant in Company M, 353rd Infantry, 89th Division, during World War I.

On November 1, 1918, near Bantheville, France, machine-gun fire halted his company and killed its commander and several soldiers. Furlong crossed an open space and reached a position behind the enemy guns. Attacking them in turn with his rifle, he put four machine-gun positions out of action and brought 20 prisoners into the American lines.

General John Pershing presented his Medal of Honor at Chaumont on February 9, 1919. Furlong later attained colonel. He died on July 27, 1987, in Clarkston, Michigan, and is buried at Oak Hill Cemetery in Pontiac. His award commemorates initiative that overcame a barrier to his company's advance.

Medal of Honor Citation

Immediately after the opening of the attack in the Bois-de-Bantheville, when his company was held up by severe machine-gun fire from the front, which killed his company commander and several soldiers, 1st Lt. Furlong moved out in advance of the line with great courage and coolness, crossing an open space several hundred yards wide.

Taking up a position behind the line of the machine guns, he closed in on them, one at a time, killing a number of the enemy with his rifle, putting four machine-gun nests out of action, and driving 20 German prisoners into our lines.