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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Second Lieutenant · U.S. Army

Patrick J. Regan

Second Lieutenant Patrick J. Regan, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on October 8, 1918 in Bois-de-Consenvoye, France during World War I.

World War I October 8, 1918

Second Lieutenant Patrick J. Regan, a soldier in the U.S. Army, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry on October 8, 1918 in Bois-de-Consenvoye, France during World War I. At the time he was serving with 115th Infantry, 29th Division. Regan was 36 years old.

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

Regan was born on March 25, 1882 in Middleboro, Plymouth County, Massachusetts. His Medal of Honor is credited to Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California. Regan died on October 30, 1943 in Bloomfield, New Jersey, at the age of 61. He is buried at Mount Olivet Cemetery in Bloomfield, New Jersey.

Regan is one of 132 Medal of Honor recipients from World War I and one of 142 credited to California.

★ Wounded but Fought On

Official Medal of Honor citation

While leading his platoon against a strong enemy machine-gun nest which had held up the advance of two companies, 2d Lt. Regan divided his men into three groups, sending one group to either flank, and he himself attacking with an automatic rifle team from the front. Two of the team were killed outright, while 2d Lt. Regan and the third man were seriously wounded, the latter unable to advance. Although seriously wounded, 2d Lt. Regan dashed with empty pistol into the machine-gun nest, capturing 30 Austrian gunners and four machine guns. This gallant deed permitted the companies to advance, avoiding a terrific enemy fire. Despite his wounds, he continued to lead his platoon forward until ordered to the rear by his commanding officer.

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

Wounds and injuries

What the citation records about his wounds:

Two of the team were killed outright, while 2d Lt. Regan and the third man were seriously wounded, the latter unable to advance.
Although seriously wounded, 2d Lt. Regan dashed with empty pistol into the machine-gun nest, capturing 30 Austrian gunners and four machine guns.
Despite his wounds, he continued to lead his platoon forward until ordered to the rear by his commanding officer.
  • Age at death: 61
  • Resting place: Mount Olivet Cemetery

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: World War I.

Places

  • Born: Massachusetts — map
  • Buried: New Jersey — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in California →

Timeline

  1. March 25, 1882
    Born in Middleboro, Plymouth County, Massachusetts
  2. October 8, 1918
    Act of valor — Bois-de-Consenvoye, France
    Age 36. 115th Infantry, 29th Division
  3. October 30, 1943
    Died in Bloomfield, New Jersey
    Age 61.
  4. Resting place
    Mount Olivet Cemetery
    Bloomfield, New Jersey

Biography

Patrick J. Regan (March 25, 1882 – October 30, 1943) was an officer in the United States Army who received the Medal of Honor for his actions during World War I.

From the Wikipedia article “Patrick Regan (Medal of Honor, 1918)”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

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 SS Samuel Major Sampler Corporal · Army World War I · 1918 Clayton Kirk Slack Private · 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

More World War I recipients from California

Nelson Miles Holderman Captain · Army World War I · 1918 OM Oscar F. Miller Major · Army World War I · 1918 ✦ CW Chester Howard West First Sergeant · Army World War I · 1918 Jesse Whitfield Covington Ship's Cook Third Class · Navy World War I · 1918 PK Phillip Carl Katz Sergeant · Army World War I · 1918 LS Lloyd Martin Seibert Sergeant · 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.