Sydney Gustave Gumpertz

Sydney Gustave Gumpertz was a United States Army First Sergeant who served during World War I. He was awarded the United States' highest military decoration for valor, the Medal of Honor, for his conspicuous gallantry in action on September 29, 1918, during operations in the Bois-de-Forges, France.

While serving as a First Sergeant with Company E, 132d Infantry, 33d Division, Gumpertz took command of his platoon when its advancing line was halted by intense enemy machine-gun fire. He led a small detachment of three men through a heavy artillery barrage to silence the enemy position. Although his two companions were quickly incapacitated by bursting shells, Gumpertz pressed on alone in the face of direct fire.

Upon reaching the enemy machine-gun nest, Gumpertz successfully jumped into the emplacement, silenced the gun single-handedly, and captured nine of the enemy crew. For his heroic actions, he was also honored with several prestigious foreign decorations, including the French Médaille militaire and the Croix de Guerre with palm.