M. Waldo Hatler

Across the Meuse alone a scout brought vital knowledge back.

Sergeant M. Waldo Hatler volunteered when his regiment needed information about German positions beyond the Meuse near Pouilly, France. On 8 November 1918 he swam the river with another soldier, who developed cramps and drowned. Hatler continued alone, reconnoitred the enemy defences and swam back with valuable information.

Born at Bolivar, Missouri, on 6 January 1894, Hatler had studied law and worked in banking before joining the Army from Neosho. He served in Company B, 356th Infantry, 89th Division. The river crossing came only three days before the Armistice. His Medal of Honor was presented in 1919 at Kansas City, Kansas, by Army officers from Fort Leavenworth.

Hatler lived for almost another half-century. Photographs at the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library document his attendance at a Medal of Honor exhibition with Truman and fellow recipient Lewis Millett. He died at Sulphur Springs, Arkansas, on 31 August 1967 and was buried in the Grand Army of the Republic Cemetery there.

Official citation:

When volunteers were called for to secure information as to the enemy's position on the opposite bank of the Meuse River, Sgt. Hatler was the first to offer his services for the dangerous mission. Swimming across the river, he succeeded in reaching the German lines after another soldier, who had started with him, had been seized with cramps and drowned in midstream. Alone he carefully and courageously reconnoitered the enemy's positions, which were held in force, and again successfully swam the river, bringing back information of great value.