Reidar Waaler

Sergeant Reidar Waaler earned the Medal of Honor for an extraordinary act of courage during the final weeks of the First World War. On 27 September 1918, near Ronssoy, France, he crossed ground swept by enemy artillery and machine-gun fire to reach a burning British tank and rescue members of its trapped crew.

Reidar Waaler was born in Christiania, now Oslo, Norway, on 12 February 1894. He later emigrated to the United States and served with the New York National Guard. During the First World War he served as a sergeant in Company A, 105th Machine Gun Battalion, 27th Division, American Expeditionary Forces.

On 27 September 1918, during operations near Ronssoy, Waaler saw a British tank disabled and burning under intense enemy fire. Despite the danger from artillery, machine guns and ammunition exploding inside the vehicle, he made his way to the tank and helped rescue two members of its crew. After bringing them to safety, Waaler returned to the burning tank to determine whether any other crewmen remained alive. He found another member of the crew dead inside. His decision to return to the vehicle despite continuing enemy fire and the danger of exploding ammunition demonstrated exceptional courage and complete disregard for his own safety.

For this action Waaler was awarded the Medal of Honor. General John J. Pershing presented the decoration to him at Chaumont, France, on 4 February 1919.

Waaler's gallantry was also recognized by several Allied nations. Britain awarded him the Distinguished Conduct Medal. France awarded him the Médaille militaire and the Croix de Guerre 1914-1918 with bronze palm. His Médaille militaire was awarded under Marshal Philippe Pétain's Order No. 16,043 “D” of 13 April 1919 in recognition of his exceptional courage during the rescue. The Kingdom of Montenegro also honoured him with the Silver Medal for Bravery, number 287, awarded on 31 May 1919.

His First World War service also entitled him to the World War I Victory Medal. The 105th Machine Gun Battalion participated in the Defensive Sector, Ypres-Lys and Somme operations, represented by three bronze service stars on Waaler's Victory Medal ribbon.

During the Second World War, Waaler again sought to serve the United States. Although older than the men normally being accepted for active duty, he persisted and eventually became involved in intelligence work connected with occupied Norway, drawing upon his Norwegian background and knowledge of Scandinavia.

Waaler's verified wearable honours comprise the Medal of Honor, World War I Victory Medal with three bronze service stars, British Distinguished Conduct Medal, French Médaille militaire, French Croix de Guerre 1914-1918 with bronze palm, and the Montenegrin Silver Medal for Bravery.

Reidar Waaler died on 5 February 1979. His military record remains distinguished not only by the Medal of Honor he earned near Ronssoy, but also by the international recognition his courage received from Britain, France and Montenegro. His actions on 27 September 1918 remain an exceptional example of a soldier deliberately risking his own life to save others while under direct enemy fire.