Milo Lemert

Grenades silenced three guns before the fourth took his life

First Sergeant Milo Lemert attacked the machine guns holding up Company G, 119th Infantry, near Bellicourt, France, on 29 September 1918. Advancing alone under fire, he destroyed one emplacement with grenades and dealt with two more in succession. He joined another sergeant to assault a fourth position and was killed at its parapet. His attacks enabled his company to advance.

Born in Marshalltown, Iowa, on 25 March 1890, Lemert later lived in Crossville, Tennessee. He and his brother Nathan enlisted in the Tennessee National Guard in June 1917. He trained with the 119th Infantry, 30th Division, at Camp Sevier, South Carolina, and married Nellie Snodgrass on 29 September 1917.

Lemert arrived in France in May 1918. His final action, during the assault on the Hindenburg Line, fell on his first wedding anniversary. There was no later career because he died in the action. His widow received his posthumous Medal of Honor at Crossville on 19 October 1919. His remains were later returned to Tennessee and buried in Crossville City Cemetery.

Official Medal of Honor citation

Seeing that the left flank of his company was held up, he located the enemy machine-gun emplacement, which had been causing heavy casualties. In the face of heavy fire he rushed it singlehandedly, killing the entire crew with grenades. Continuing along the enemy trench in advance of the company, he reached another emplacement, which he also charged, silencing the gun with grenades. A third machine-gun emplacement opened up on him from the left and with similar skill and bravery he destroyed this also. Later, in company with another sergeant, he attacked a fourth machine-gun nest, being killed as he reached the parapet of the emplacement. His courageous action in destroying in turn four enemy machine-gun nests prevented many casualties among his company and very materially aided in achieving the objective.