At the time of his ultimate sacrifice for his country, he was believed to be the youngest soldier within the American Expeditionary Forces (AEF).
Shortly after he had graduated from the Devotion Grammar School in June of 1917, he attended a local recruiting rally where he lied about his age & enlisted with Company "H" of the 101st Infantry. He & his unit were sent overseas in September of that same year. His real birthday wasn't discovered till months after that, & in order to lower any responsibilities for him, his commanding officer appointed their supply sergeant as his guardian.
From the recorded words of several soldiers in his company, as they were chasing the Germans out of the Marne, Private "Scotty" was ordered by a lieutenant to guard a narrow pass between the Trugny Woods & the town of Épieds-en-Beauce, France. Armed with a Chauchat (a French machine gun), he had taken down 30 German soldiers in a span of 15 minutes before they tricked him by yelling in English that they were Americans & to not shoot at them.
Many people had described him as "a quiet, good kid who was cool as a cucumber & never knew fear."
Shortly after he had graduated from the Devotion Grammar School in June of 1917, he attended a local recruiting rally where he lied about his age & enlisted with Company "H" of the 101st Infantry. He & his unit were sent overseas in September of that same year. His real birthday wasn't discovered till months after that, & in order to lower any responsibilities for him, his commanding officer appointed their supply sergeant as his guardian.
From the recorded words of several soldiers in his company, as they were chasing the Germans out of the Marne, Private "Scotty" was ordered by a lieutenant to guard a narrow pass between the Trugny Woods & the town of Épieds-en-Beauce, France. Armed with a Chauchat (a French machine gun), he had taken down 30 German soldiers in a span of 15 minutes before they tricked him by yelling in English that they were Americans & to not shoot at them.
Many people had described him as "a quiet, good kid who was cool as a cucumber & never knew fear."
At the time of his ultimate sacrifice for his country, he was believed to be the youngest soldier within the American Expeditionary Forces (AEF).
Shortly after he had graduated from the Devotion Grammar School in June of 1917, he attended a local recruiting rally where he lied about his age & enlisted with Company "H" of the 101st Infantry. He & his unit were sent overseas in September of that same year. His real birthday wasn't discovered till months after that, & in order to lower any responsibilities for him, his commanding officer appointed their supply sergeant as his guardian.
From the recorded words of several soldiers in his company, as they were chasing the Germans out of the Marne, Private "Scotty" was ordered by a lieutenant to guard a narrow pass between the Trugny Woods & the town of Épieds-en-Beauce, France. Armed with a Chauchat (a French machine gun), he had taken down 30 German soldiers in a span of 15 minutes before they tricked him by yelling in English that they were Americans & to not shoot at them.
Many people had described him as "a quiet, good kid who was cool as a cucumber & never knew fear."
Shortly after he had graduated from the Devotion Grammar School in June of 1917, he attended a local recruiting rally where he lied about his age & enlisted with Company "H" of the 101st Infantry. He & his unit were sent overseas in September of that same year. His real birthday wasn't discovered till months after that, & in order to lower any responsibilities for him, his commanding officer appointed their supply sergeant as his guardian.
From the recorded words of several soldiers in his company, as they were chasing the Germans out of the Marne, Private "Scotty" was ordered by a lieutenant to guard a narrow pass between the Trugny Woods & the town of Épieds-en-Beauce, France. Armed with a Chauchat (a French machine gun), he had taken down 30 German soldiers in a span of 15 minutes before they tricked him by yelling in English that they were Americans & to not shoot at them.
Many people had described him as "a quiet, good kid who was cool as a cucumber & never knew fear."
Inscription
Private, Company H 101 Infantry; Killed in action, Trugny Wood, France, July 23, 1918; Age 16 years, 7 months, 11 days; For extraordinary heroism in battle he was awarded the distinguished service cross posthumously
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