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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Lieutenant Commander · U.S. Navy

Alexander Gordon Lyle

Lieutenant Commander Alexander Gordon Lyle, Navy, received the Medal of Honor for actions on April 23, 1918 in the French Front, France during World War I.

World War I April 23, 1918

Lieutenant Commander Alexander Gordon Lyle, a sailor in the U.S. Navy, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry on April 23, 1918 in the French Front, France during World War I. At the time he was serving with Dental Corps, attached to 5th Regiment Marines, U.S. Marines. Lyle was 28 years old.

The medal was presented on December 11, 1919. He later rose to the rank of Vice Admiral.

Lyle was born on November 12, 1889 in Gloucester, Essex County, Massachusetts. His Medal of Honor is credited to Massachusetts. Lyle died on July 15, 1955, at the age of 65. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.

Lyle is one of 132 Medal of Honor recipients from World War I and one of 265 credited to Massachusetts.

Official Medal of Honor citation

For extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty while serving with the 5th Regiment, U.S. Marine Corps. Under heavy shellfire, 23 April 1918, on the French front, Lt. Comdr. Lyle rushed to the assistance of Cpl. Thomas Regan, who was seriously wounded, and administered such effective surgical aid while bombardment was still continuing as to save the life of Cpl. Regan.

Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.

Other decorations and honors

Besides the Medal of Honor, Alexander Gordon Lyle received:

Silver StarLegionnaire of Legion of Merit

Source: Wikidata. Gold chips link to our guide to that decoration.

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: World War II, World War I.

Life beyond the battlefield

  • Occupations: dentist

Source: Wikidata.

Places

  • Born: Gloucester — map
  • Died: Portsmouth — map
  • Buried: Arlington National Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Massachusetts →

Timeline

  1. November 12, 1889
    Born in Gloucester, Essex County, Massachusetts
  2. April 23, 1918
    Act of valor — the French Front, France
    Age 28. Dental Corps, attached to 5th Regiment Marines, U.S. Marines
  3. December 11, 1919
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. July 15, 1955
    Died
    Age 65.
  5. Resting place
    Arlington National Cemetery
    Arlington, Virginia

Biography

Alexander Gordon Lyle (November 12, 1889 – July 15, 1955) was an officer in the United States Navy who received the Medal of Honor for his actions during World War I. He is one of only three dental officers to have received the medal, the others being Weedon Osborne and Ben L. Salomon.

From the Wikipedia article “Alexander Gordon Lyle”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

Further reading

More World War I recipients from Massachusetts

MP Michael J. Perkins Private First Class · Army World War I · 1918 ✦ JM John MacKenzie Chief Boatswain's Mate · Navy World War I · 1917 CW Charles White Whittlesey Major · Army World War I · 1918
Sources. Service and award details compiled from the recipient record of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, Wikidata and Wikipedia. The narrative summary is generated from these records. Spotted an error? Send a correction.