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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Private First Class · U.S. Army

Frank J. Gaffney

Private First Class Frank J. Gaffney, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on September 29, 1918 near Ronssoy, France during World War I.

World War I September 29, 1918

Private First Class Frank J. Gaffney was a soldier in the U.S. Army who received the Medal of Honor for his actions on September 29, 1918 near Ronssoy, France during World War I. At the time he was serving with Company G, 108th Infantry, 27th Division. Gaffney was 34 years old.

10 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day.

Gaffney was born on December 16, 1883 in Buffalo, Erie County, New York. His Medal of Honor is credited to Niagara Falls, Niagara County, New York. Gaffney died on May 25, 1948 in Niagara Falls, New York, at the age of 64. He is buried at United German & French RC Cemetery in Buffalo, New York.

Gaffney is one of 132 Medal of Honor recipients from World War I and one of 678 credited to New York.

Official Medal of Honor citation

Pfc. Gaffney, an automatic rifleman, pushing forward alone, after all the other members of his squad had been killed, discovered several Germans placing a heavy machine gun in position. He killed the crew, captured the gun, bombed several dugouts, and, after killing four more of the enemy with his pistol, held the position until reinforcements came up, when 80 prisoners were captured.

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

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: World War I.

Places

  • Born: Buffalo — map
  • Buried: United German and French Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in New York →

Timeline

  1. December 16, 1883
    Born in Buffalo, Erie County, New York
  2. September 29, 1918
    Act of valor — near Ronssoy, France
    Age 34. Company G, 108th Infantry, 27th Division
  3. May 25, 1948
    Died in Niagara Falls, New York
    Age 64.
  4. Resting place
    United German & French RC Cemetery
    Buffalo, New York

Biography

Frank Joseph Gaffney (December 18, 1883 – May 25, 1948) was a soldier in the United States Army who received the Medal of Honor for his actions during World War I. He was considered "the second bravest man in the U. S. Army."

From the Wikipedia article “Frank Gaffney (Medal of Honor)”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

Also honored for actions on September 29, 1918

JA Joseph B. Adkison Sergeant · Army World War I · 1918 AE Alan Louis Eggers Sergeant · Army World War I · 1918 Sydney G. Gumpertz First Sergeant · Army World War I · 1918 John Cridland Latham Sergeant · Army World War I · 1918 ML Milo Lemert First Sergeant · Army World War I · 1918 ✦ Frank Luke Jr. Second Lieutenant · Air Force World War I · 1918 ✦ TO Thomas E. O'Shea Corporal · Army World War I · 1918 ✦ GR George Seanor Robb First Lieutenant · Army World War I · 1918 FS Fred E. Smith Lieutenant Colonel · Army World War I · 1918 ✦ Michael Valente Private · Army World War I · 1918

More World War I recipients from New York

Henry Johnson Private · Army World War I · 1918 ✦ AP Archie A. Peck Private · Army World War I · 1918 PD Parker Francis Dunn Private First Class · Army World War I · 1918 ✦ WT William Bradford Turner First Lieutenant · Army World War I · 1918 ✦ Richard William O'Neill Sergeant · Army World War I · 1918 Matej Kocak Sergeant · Marine Corps 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.