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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

First Lieutenant · U.S. Army

Harold Arthur Furlong

First Lieutenant Harold Arthur Furlong, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on November 1, 1918 near Bantheville, France during World War I.

World War I November 1, 1918

First Lieutenant Harold Arthur Furlong was a soldier in the U.S. Army who received the Medal of Honor for his actions on November 1, 1918 near Bantheville, France during World War I. At the time he was serving with Company M, 353d Infantry, 89th Division. Furlong was 23 years old.

One other service member also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on February 9, 1919. Chaumont, France, presented by Gen.John J. Pershing. He later rose to the rank of Colonel.

Furlong was born on August 1, 1895 in Pontiac, Oakland County, Michigan. His Medal of Honor is credited to Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan. Furlong died on July 27, 1987 in Clarkston, Michigan, at the age of 91. He is buried at Oak Hill Cemetery in Pontiac, Michigan. His medal is held by Michigan Heroes Museum, Frankenmuth, MI.

Furlong is one of 132 Medal of Honor recipients from World War I and one of 112 credited to Michigan.

Official Medal of Honor citation

Immediately after the opening of the attack in the Bois-de-Bantheville, when his company was held up by severe machine-gun fire from the front, which killed his company commander and several soldiers, 1st Lt. Furlong moved out in advance of the line with great courage and coolness, crossing an open space several hundred yards wide. Taking up a position behind the line of the machine guns, he closed in on them, one at a time, killing a number of the enemy with his rifle, putting four machine-gun nests out of action, and driving 20 German prisoners into our lines.

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

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: World War I.

Places

  • Born: Pontiac — map
  • Died: Clarkston — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Michigan →

Timeline

  1. August 1, 1895
    Born in Pontiac, Oakland County, Michigan
  2. November 1, 1918
    Act of valor — near Bantheville, France
    Age 23. Company M, 353d Infantry, 89th Division
  3. February 9, 1919
    Medal of Honor presented
    Chaumont, France, presented by Gen.John J. Pershing
  4. July 27, 1987
    Died in Clarkston, Michigan
    Age 91.
  5. Resting place
    Oak Hill Cemetery
    Pontiac, Michigan

Biography

Harold Arthur Furlong (August 25, 1895 – July 27, 1987) was a United States Army First Lieutenant and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor, for his actions in France during World War I. He also received the Croix de guerre with palms and was made a Chevalier of the Legion of Honor. He joined the Michigan National Guard in December 1921, retiring as a lieutenant colonel in May 1946. During World War II, he served as an Army surgeon in Germany.

From the Wikipedia article “Harold A. Furlong”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

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Also honored for actions on November 1, 1918

JS John Otto Siegel Boatswain's Mate Second Class · Navy 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.