Lloyd Seibert

Leading attacks and bringing wounded comrades back to safety

Lloyd Martin Seibert was born on 23 May 1889 in Caledonia, Michigan. He first enlisted in the California National Guard in 1906. During World War I he served as an Army sergeant in Company F, 364th Infantry, 91st Division. On 26 September 1918, near Epinonville, France, he remained with his platoon despite illness and led under shell and machine-gun fire. With two other soldiers, he charged an enemy machine-gun emplacement and helped capture its defenders. Wounded in the attack, he stayed in action and assisted a casualty during the withdrawal. That evening, he volunteered to bring in more wounded soldiers until he collapsed from exhaustion. His Medal of Honor recognized both combat leadership and care for his comrades.

After returning to San Francisco in 1919, Seibert continued an Army career that included cavalry service and postings in Texas and Puerto Rico. He became a warrant officer in 1937 and chief warrant officer before retiring in 1944. He returned to service with the San Francisco Harbor Defenses in 1945 and retired again in April 1946. He died on 15 October 1972 and was buried in San Francisco National Cemetery.

Medal of Honor citation

Suffering from illness, Sgt. Seibert remained with his platoon and lead his men with the highest courage and leadership under heavy shell and machine-gun fire. With two other soldiers he charged a machine-gun emplacement in advance of their company, he himself killing one of the enemy with a shotgun and capturing two others. In this encounter he was wounded, but he nevertheless continued in action, and when a withdrawal was ordered he returned with the last unit, assisting a wounded comrade. Later in the evening he volunteered and carried in wounded until he fainted from exhaustion.