The President of the United States
in the name of The Congress
takes pleasure in presenting the
Medal of Honor
to
MANNING, SIDNEY E.
Rank and Organization: Corporal, U.S. Army Company
G, 167th Infantry, 42d Division. Place and Date: Near Breuvannes, France, 28 July
1918. Entering service at: Flomaton, Ala. Born: 17 July 1892, Butler County, Ala. G.
O. No.: 44, W.D., 1919.
Citation:
When his platoon commander and platoon sergeant had both become casualties soon after the
beginning of an assault on strongly fortified heights overlooking the Ourcq River, Cpl.
Manning took command of his platoon, which was near the center of the attacking line.
Though himself severely wounded he led forward the 35 men remaining in the platoon and
finally succeeded in gaining a foothold on the enemy's position, during which time he had
received more wounds and all but 7 of his men had fallen. Directing the consolidation of
the position, he held off a large body of the enemy only 50 yards away by fire from his
automatic rifle. He declined to take cover until his line had been entirely consolidated
with the line of the platoon on the front when he dragged himself to shelter, suffering
from 9 wounds in all parts of the body.
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