Medal of Honor Roll Call: Louis Wardlaw Miles

Louis Wardlaw Miles

This man who eventually became the biographer of the 308th Infantry Regiment was in his own right a hero – but you couldn’t tell him that. Until his death he remained irritated that he had been carried off the field against his will. –Robert J. Laplander

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Louis Wardlaw Miles

Rank and Organization: Captain, U.S. Army, 308th Infantry, 77th Division.
Place and Date of Action: Near Revillon, France, 14 September 1918.
Entered Service At: Princeton, N.J.
Birth Date and Place of Birth: 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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