The President of the United States
in the name of The Congress
takes pleasure in presenting the
Medal of Honor
to
MILES, LOUIS WARDLAW
Rank and Organization: Captain, U.S. Army, 308th
Infantry, 77th Division. Place and Date: Near Revillon, France, 14 September 1918. Entered
Service At: Princeton, N.J. Born: 23 March 1873, Baltimore, Md. G. O. No.:
44, W.D., 1919.
Citation:
Volunteered to lead his company in a hazardous attack on a commanding trench position near
the Aisne Canal, which other troops had previously attempted to take without success. His
company immediately met with intense machinegun fire, against which it had no artillery
assistance, but Capt. Miles preceded the first wave and assisted in cutting a passage
through the enemy's wire entanglements. In so doing he was wounded 5 times by machinegun
bullets, both legs and 1 arm being fractured, whereupon he ordered himself placed on a
stretcher and had himself carried forward to the enemy trench in order that he might
encourage and direct his company, which by this time had suffered numerous casualties.
Under the inspiration of this officer's indomitable spirit his men held the hostile
position and consolidated the front line after an action lasting 2 hours, at the
conclusion of which Capt. Miles was carried to the aid station against his will.
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