Captain Louis Wardlaw Miles was a soldier in the U.S. Army who received the Medal of Honor for his actions on September 14, 1918 near Revillon, France during World War I. At the time he was serving with 308th Infantry, 77th Division. Miles was 45 years old.
Miles was born on March 23, 1873 in Baltimore, Baltimore County, Maryland. His Medal of Honor is credited to Princeton, Mercer County, New Jersey. Miles died on June 27, 1944 in Baltimore, Maryland, at the age of 71. He is buried at Green Mount Cemetery in Baltimore, Maryland.
Miles 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
Volunteered to lead his company in a hazardous attack on a commanding trench position near the Aisne Canal, which other troops had previously attempted to take without success. His company immediately met with intense machine-gun fire, against which it had no artillery assistance, but Capt. Miles preceded the first wave and assisted in cutting a passage through the enemy's wire entanglements. In so doing he was wounded five times by machine-gun bullets, both legs and one arm being fractured, whereupon he ordered himself placed on a stretcher and had himself carried forward to the enemy trench in order that he might encourage and direct his company, which by this time had suffered numerous casualties. Under the inspiration of this officer's indomitable spirit his men held the hostile position and consolidated the front line after an action lasting two hours, at the conclusion of which Capt. Miles was carried to the aid station against his will.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Wounds and injuries
What the citation records about his wounds:
In so doing he was wounded five times by machine-gun bullets, both legs and one arm being fractured, whereupon he ordered himself placed on a stretcher and had himself carried forward to the enemy trench in order that he might encourage and direct his company, which by this time had suffered numerous casualties.
- Age at death: 71
- Resting place: Green Mount Cemetery
Battles and campaigns
Also served in: World War I.
Places
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in New Jersey →
Timeline
- March 23, 1873Born in Baltimore, Baltimore County, Maryland
- September 14, 1918Act of valor — near Revillon, FranceAge 45. 308th Infantry, 77th Division
- June 27, 1944Died in Baltimore, MarylandAge 71.
- Resting placeGreen Mount CemeteryBaltimore, Maryland
Biography
Louis Wardlaw Miles (March 23, 1873 – June 26, 1944), was a World War I Medal of Honor recipient.
From the Wikipedia article “Louis Wardlaw Miles”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
