Serving as a soldier in the U.S. Army, Sergeant Richard William O'Neill received the Medal of Honor for his actions on July 30, 1918 on the Oureq River, France during World War I. At the time he was serving with Company D, 165th Infantry, 42d Division. O'Neill was 19 years old.
The medal was presented on November 1919. Fordham University, Bronx, New York, presented by Marshall Foch. He later rose to the rank of First Lieutenant.
O'Neill was born on August 28, 1898 in New York, New York. O'Neill died on April 9, 1982 in Hawthorne, New York, at the age of 83. He is buried at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Hawthorne, New York.
O'Neill 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
In advance of an assaulting line, he attacked a detachment of about 25 of the enemy. In the ensuing hand-to-hand encounter he sustained pistol wounds, but heroically continued in the advance, during which he received additional wounds; but, with great physical effort, he remained in active command of his detachment. Being again wounded, he was forced by weakness and loss of blood to be evacuated, but insisted upon being taken first to the battalion commander in order to transmit to him valuable information relative to enemy positions and the disposition of our men.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Wounds and injuries
What the citation records about his wounds:
In the ensuing hand-to-hand encounter he sustained pistol wounds, but heroically continued in the advance, during which he received additional wounds; but, with great physical effort, he remained in active command of his detachment.
- Age at death: 83
- Resting place: Gate of Heaven Cemetery
Other decorations and honors
Besides the Medal of Honor, Richard William O'Neill received:
Source: Wikidata. Gold chips link to our guide to that decoration.
Battles and campaigns
Second Battle of the Marne
Result: Entente victory
3 Medal of Honor recipients
1917 · World War IPancho Villa Expedition
2 Medal of Honor recipients
1918 · World War IMeuse-Argonne Offensive
Result: Allied victory; End of World War I
6 Medal of Honor recipients
Also served in: World War I.
Places
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in New York →
Timeline
- August 28, 1898Born in New York, New York
- July 30, 1918Act of valor — on the Oureq River, FranceAge 19. Company D, 165th Infantry, 42d Division
- November 1919Medal of Honor presentedFordham University, Bronx, New York, presented by Marshall Foch
- April 9, 1982Died in Hawthorne, New YorkAge 83.
- Resting placeGate of Heaven CemeteryHawthorne, New York
Biography
Richard William O'Neill (August 28, 1897 – April 9, 1982) was a soldier in the United States Army who served during World War I. He received the Medal of Honor for his actions, and went on to receive numerous other decorations to recognize his wartime heroism. Born and educated in New York City, O'Neill joined the New York National Guard's 69th Infantry Regiment in 1916, and served with the unit in Texas during the Pancho Villa Expedition. He continued to serve with his regiment during World War I, when it was re-designated as the 165th Infantry.
From the Wikipedia article “Richard W. O'Neill”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
