Private Sterling Lewis Morelock, a soldier in the U.S. Army, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry on October 4, 1918 near Exermont, France during World War I. At the time he was serving with Company M, 28th Infantry, 1st Division. Morelock was 28 years old.
3 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day.
Morelock was born on June 5, 1890 in Silver Run, Carroll County, Maryland. His Medal of Honor is credited to Oquawka, Henderson County, Illinois. Morelock died on September 1, 1964 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, at the age of 74. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.
Morelock is one of 132 Medal of Honor recipients from World War I and one of 210 credited to Illinois.
Official Medal of Honor citation
While his company was being held up by heavy enemy fire, Pvt. Morelock, with three other men who were acting as runners at company headquarters, voluntarily led them as a patrol in advance of his company's front line through intense rifle, artillery, and machine-gun fire and penetrated a woods which formed the German front line. Encountering a series of five hostile machine-gun nests, containing from one to five machine guns each, with his patrol he cleaned them all out, gained and held complete mastery of the situation until the arrival of his company commander with reinforcements, even though his entire party had become casualties. He rendered first aid to the injured and evacuated them by using stretcher bearers 10 German prisoners whom he had captured. Soon thereafter his company commander was wounded and while dressing his wound Pvt. Morelock was very seriously wounded in the hip, which forced his evacuation. His heroic action and devotion to duty were an inspiration to the entire regiment.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Wounds and injuries
What the citation records about his wounds:
Soon thereafter his company commander was wounded and while dressing his wound Pvt. Morelock was very seriously wounded in the hip, which forced his evacuation.
- Age at death: 74
- Resting place: Arlington National Cemetery
Battles and campaigns
Also served in: World War I.
Places
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Illinois →
Timeline
- June 5, 1890Born in Silver Run, Carroll County, Maryland
- October 4, 1918Act of valor — near Exermont, FranceAge 28. Company M, 28th Infantry, 1st Division
- September 1, 1964Died in Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaAge 74.
- Resting placeArlington National CemeteryArlington, Virginia
Biography
Sterling Lewis Morelock (June 5, 1890 – September 1, 1964) 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 France during World War I. Morelock's wounds took a heavy toll on his body and he spent over ten years receiving treatment afterward. He was active with Veteran's affairs including work as a Veteran's Administration employee until his retirement in 1962
From the Wikipedia article “Sterling L. Morelock”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
