Sergeant Alan Louis Eggers, a soldier in the U.S. Army, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry on September 29, 1918 near Le Catelet, France during World War I. At the time he was serving with 3d Platoon, Machine Gun Company, 107th Infantry, 27th Division. Eggers was 22 years old.
10 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on February 4, 1919. Chaumont, France, presented by Gen. John J. Pershing.
Eggers was born on November 2, 1895 in Saranac Lake, Franklin County, New York. His Medal of Honor is credited to Summit, Union County, New Jersey. Eggers died on October 3, 1968 in New Vernon, New Jersey, at the age of 72. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.
Eggers is one of 132 Medal of Honor recipients from World War I and one of 93 credited to New Jersey.
Official Medal of Honor citation
Becoming separated from their platoon by a smoke barrage, Sgt. Eggers, Sgt. John C. Latham and Cpl. Thomas E. O'Shea took cover in a shell hole well within the enemy's lines. Upon hearing a call for help from an American tank, which had become disabled 30 yards from them, the three soldiers left their shelter and started towards the tank, under heavy fire from German machine guns and trench mortars. In crossing the fire-swept area Cpl. O'Shea was mortally wounded, but his companions, undeterred, proceeded to the tank, rescued a wounded officer, and assisted two wounded soldiers to cover in a sap of a nearby trench. Sgt. Eggers and Sgt. Latham then returned to the tank in the face of the violent fire, dismounted a Hotchkiss gun, and took it back to where the wounded men were, keeping off the enemy all day by effective use of the gun and later bringing it, with the wounded men, back to our lines under cover of darkness.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Other decorations and honors
Besides the Medal of Honor, Alan Louis Eggers received:
Source: Wikidata. Gold chips link to our guide to that decoration.
Battles and campaigns
Also served in: World War I.
Life beyond the battlefield
- Education: Cornell University
Source: Wikidata.
Places
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in New Jersey →
Timeline
- November 2, 1895Born in Saranac Lake, Franklin County, New York
- September 29, 1918Act of valor — near Le Catelet, FranceAge 22. 3d Platoon, Machine Gun Company, 107th Infantry, 27th Division
- February 4, 1919Medal of Honor presentedChaumont, France, presented by Gen. John J. Pershing
- October 3, 1968Died in New Vernon, New JerseyAge 72.
- Resting placeArlington National CemeteryArlington, Virginia
Biography
Alan Louis Eggers (November 2, 1895 – October 3, 1968) was a sergeant in the United States Army during World War I. He received the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions in combat near Le Catelet, France, on September 29, 1918, together with John C. Latham and Thomas E. O'Shea. Eggers was a student at Cornell University before departing for service. He was awarded the degree of "War Alumnus" in 1921. He was buried at Arlington National Cemetery, in Arlington, Virginia.
From the Wikipedia article “Alan Louis Eggers”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
