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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Private · U.S. Army

Clayton Kirk Slack

Private Clayton Kirk Slack, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on October 8, 1918 near Consenvoye, France during World War I.

World War I October 8, 1918

Private Clayton Kirk Slack was a soldier in the U.S. Army who received the Medal of Honor for his actions on October 8, 1918 near Consenvoye, France during World War I. At the time he was serving with Company D, 124th Machine Gun Battalion, 33d Division. Slack was 22 years old.

12 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on February 9, 1919. Chaumont, France - presented by General John J. Pershing.

Slack was born on February 23, 1896 in Plover, Portage County, Wisconsin. His Medal of Honor is credited to Madison, Dane County, Wisconsin. Slack died on March 1, 1976 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, at the age of 80. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.

Slack is one of 132 Medal of Honor recipients from World War I and one of 50 credited to Wisconsin.

★ Single-Handed Actions

Official Medal of Honor citation

Observing German soldiers under cover 50 yards away on the left flank, Pvt. Slack, upon his own initiative, rushed them with his rifle and, singlehandedly, captured 10 prisoners and two heavy-type machine guns, thus saving his company and neighboring organizations from heavy casualties.

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

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: World War I.

Places

  • Born: Plover — map
  • Buried: Arlington National Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Wisconsin →

Timeline

  1. February 23, 1896
    Born in Plover, Portage County, Wisconsin
  2. October 8, 1918
    Act of valor — near Consenvoye, France
    Age 22. Company D, 124th Machine Gun Battalion, 33d Division
  3. February 9, 1919
    Medal of Honor presented
    Chaumont, France - presented by General John J. Pershing
  4. March 1, 1976
    Died in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
    Age 80.
  5. Resting place
    Arlington National Cemetery
    Arlington, Virginia

Biography

Clayton Kirk Slack (February 23, 1896 – March 1, 1976) was a soldier in the United States Army who received the Medal of Honor for his actions during World War I.

From the Wikipedia article “Clayton K. Slack”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

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Also honored for actions on October 8, 1918

Johannes Seigfried Anderson First Sergeant · Army World War I · 1918 Henry G. Costin Private · Army World War I · 1918 ✦ James C. Dozier First Lieutenant · Army World War I · 1918 GF Gary Evans Foster Sergeant · Army World War I · 1918 EG Earl D. Gregory Sergeant · Army World War I · 1918 TH Thomas Lee Hall Sergeant · Army World War I · 1918 ✦ JK James Ernest Karnes Sergeant · Army World War I · 1918 PR Patrick J. Regan Second Lieutenant · Army World War I · 1918 SS Samuel Major Sampler Corporal · Army World War I · 1918 Harold Leo Turner Corporal · Army World War I · 1918 CW Calvin John Ward Private · Army World War I · 1918 Alvin Cullium York Corporal · 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.