Veteran in crisis? Dial 988 then press 1 · Text 838255 Next observance: Navy Birthday · October 13
Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Private · U.S. Army

Nels T. Wold

Private Nels T. Wold, Army, received the Medal of Honor posthumously for actions on September 26, 1918 near Cheppy, France during World War I.

World War I September 26, 1918Posthumous

Private Nels T. Wold, a soldier in the U.S. Army, was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously for gallantry on September 26, 1918 near Cheppy, France during World War I. At the time he was serving with Company I, 138th Infantry, 35th Division. Wold was 22 years old.

Wold was killed in the action for which his medal was awarded. 8 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day.

Wold was born on December 24, 1895 in Winger, Polk County, Minnesota. His Medal of Honor is credited to Minnewaukan, Benson County, North Dakota. He is buried at Elim Cemetery in Winger, Minnesota.

Wold is one of 132 Medal of Honor recipients from World War I and one of 19 credited to North Dakota.

★ Rescue & Lifesaving★ Gave Their Lives★ Assaults on Machine-Gun Nests

Official Medal of Honor citation

He rendered most gallant service in aiding the advance of his company, which had been held up by machine-gun nests, advancing, with one other soldier, and silencing the guns, bringing with him, upon his return, 11 prisoners. Later the same day he jumped from a trench and rescued a comrade who was about to be shot by a German officer, killing the officer during the exploit. His actions were entirely voluntary, and it was while attempting to rush a fifth machine-gun nest that he was killed. The advance of his company was mainly due to his great courage and devotion to duty.

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

Wounds and death in action

  • Killed in action during the act for which the medal was awarded (September 26, 1918).
  • Age at death: 22
  • Resting place: Elim Cemetery

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: World War I.

Places

  • Born: Winger — map
  • Died: Cheppy — map
  • Buried: Elim Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in North Dakota →

Timeline

  1. December 24, 1895
    Born in Winger, Polk County, Minnesota
  2. September 26, 1918
    Act of valor — near Cheppy, France
    Age 22. Company I, 138th Infantry, 35th Division Killed in action.
  3. Resting place
    Elim Cemetery
    Winger, Minnesota

Biography

Nels T. Wold (December 24, 1895 – September 26, 1918) was a United States Army soldier and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in World War I.

From the Wikipedia article “Nels Wold”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

Also honored for actions on September 26, 1918

Deming Bronson First Lieutenant · Army World War I · 1918 DC Donald Marshall Call Corporal · Army World War I · 1918 PK Phillip Carl Katz Sergeant · Army World War I · 1918 George H. Mallon Captain · Army World War I · 1918 Willie Sandlin Sergeant · Army World War I · 1918 LS Lloyd Martin Seibert Sergeant · Army World War I · 1918 AS Alexander Rives Skinker Captain · Army World War I · 1918 ✦ CW Chester Howard West First Sergeant · Army World War I · 1918

More World War I recipients from North Dakota

Willis Winter Bradley Jr. Commander · Navy World War I · 1917 FS Fred E. Smith Lieutenant Colonel · 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.