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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

First Sergeant · U.S. Army

Sydney G. Gumpertz

First Sergeant Sydney G. Gumpertz, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on September 29, 1918 in Bois-de-Forges, France during World War I.

World War I September 29, 1918

Serving as a soldier in the U.S. Army, First Sergeant Sydney G. Gumpertz received the Medal of Honor for his actions on September 29, 1918 in Bois-de-Forges, France during World War I. At the time he was serving with Company E, 132d Infantry, 33d Division. Gumpertz was 38 years old.

10 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on February 9, 1919. Chaumont, France - presented by General John J. Pershing. He later rose to the rank of Captain.

Gumpertz was born on October 24, 1879 in San Raphael, Marin County, California. His Medal of Honor is credited to Chicago, Cook County, Illinois. Gumpertz died on February 16, 1971 in New York, New York, at the age of 91. He is buried at Long Island National Cemetery in Farmingdale, New York.

Gumpertz is one of 132 Medal of Honor recipients from World War I and one of 210 credited to Illinois.

Official Medal of Honor citation

When the advancing line was held up by machine-gun fire, 1st Sgt. Gumpertz left the platoon of which he was in command and started with two other soldiers through a heavy barrage toward the machine-gun nest. His two companions soon became casualties from bursting shells, but 1st Sgt. Gumpertz continued on alone in the face of direct fire from the machine gun, jumped into the nest, and silenced the gun, capturing nine of the crew.

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

Other decorations and honors

Besides the Medal of Honor, Sydney G. Gumpertz received:

Croix de guerre 1914–1918

Source: Wikidata. Gold chips link to our guide to that decoration.

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: World War I.

Life beyond the battlefield

  • Occupations: non-fiction writer

Source: Wikidata.

Places

  • Born: San Rafael — map
  • Died: New York City — map
  • Buried: Long Island National Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Illinois →

Timeline

  1. October 24, 1879
    Born in San Raphael, Marin County, California
  2. September 29, 1918
    Act of valor — Bois-de-Forges, France
    Age 38. Company E, 132d Infantry, 33d Division
  3. February 9, 1919
    Medal of Honor presented
    Chaumont, France - presented by General John J. Pershing
  4. February 16, 1971
    Died in New York, New York
    Age 91.
  5. Resting place
    Long Island National Cemetery
    Farmingdale, New York

Biography

Sydney Gustave Gumpertz (October 24, 1879 – February 16, 1971) was a United States Army First Sergeant and recipient to the highest military decoration for valor in combat — the Medal of Honor — during World War I.

From the Wikipedia article “Sydney G. Gumpertz”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

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Also honored for actions on September 29, 1918

JA Joseph B. Adkison Sergeant · Army World War I · 1918 AE Alan Louis Eggers Sergeant · Army World War I · 1918 FG Frank J. Gaffney Private First Class · Army World War I · 1918 John Cridland Latham Sergeant · Army World War I · 1918 ML Milo Lemert First Sergeant · Army World War I · 1918 ✦ Frank Luke Jr. Second Lieutenant · Air Force World War I · 1918 ✦ TO Thomas E. O'Shea Corporal · Army World War I · 1918 ✦ GR George Seanor Robb First Lieutenant · Army World War I · 1918 FS Fred E. Smith Lieutenant Colonel · Army World War I · 1918 ✦ Michael Valente Private · Army World War I · 1918

More World War I recipients from Illinois

BL Berger Holton Loman Private · Army World War I · 1918 Weedon Edward Osborne Lieutenant, j.g. · Navy World War I · 1918 ✦ TP Thomas A. Pope Corporal · Army World War I · 1918 Edouard Victor michel Izac Lieutenant · Navy World War I · 1918 Harold Ernest Goettler First Lieutenant · Air Force World War I · 1918 ✦ Robert Guy Robinson Gunnery Sergeant · Marine Corps 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.