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from Wisconsin during World War I |
| The following pages contain the names of all Medal of Honor Recipients from Wisconsin that I have found. Please note that some of these Recipients are not officially accredited to Wisconsin. I have listed Recipients who were born in Wisconsin or lived in Wisconsin when they entered service; the U.S. Military may use different criteria. | |

| 26-27 September 1918
1LT BRONSON, DEMING Born Rhinelander, Wisconsin, Entered service at Seattle, Washington Company H, 364th Infantry, 91st Division, U.S. Army Awarded for action near Eclisfontaine, France |
![]() photo courtesy of Home of Heroes |
![]() photo courtesy of Home of Heroes |
2-7 October 1918
MAJ WHITTLESEY, CHARLES W. Born Florence, Wisconsin, Entered service at Pittsfield, Massachusetts 308th Infantry, 77th Division, U.S. Army Awarded for action northeast of Binarville, in the forest of Argonne France |
| 8 October 1918
PVT SLACK, CLAYTON K. Born Plover, Wisconsin, Entered service at Madison, Wisconsin Company D, 124th Machine Gun Battalion, 33d Division, U.S. Army Awarded for action near Consenvoye, France |
![]() photo courtesy of Home of Heroes |
| 1 November 1918
Boatswain's Mate Second Class SIEGEL, JOHN OTTO Born Milwaukee, Wisconsin U.S. Navy Awarded for action on the (U.S.S.?) Mohawk and the schooner Hjeltenaes |

Rank and organization: First Lieutenant, U.S. Army,
Company
H, 364th Infantry, 91st Division. Place and date: Near Eclisfontaine,
France,
26-27 September 1918. Entered service at: Seattle, Wash. Born: 8 July
1894,
Rhinelander, Wis. G.O. No.: 12 W.D., 1929. Citation: For conspicuous
gallantry
and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action with the
enemy.
On the morning of 26 September, during the advance of the 364th
Infantry,
1st Lt. Bronson was struck by an exploding enemy handgrenade, receiving
deep cuts on his face and the back of his head. He nevertheless
participated
in the action which resulted in the capture of an enemy dugout from
which
a great number of prisoners were taken. This was effected with
difficulty
and under extremely hazardous conditions because it was necessary to
advance
without the advantage of cover and, from an exposed position, throw
handgrenades
and phosphorous bombs to compel the enemy to surrender. On the
afternoon
of the same day he was painfully wounded in the left arm by an enemy
rifle
bullet, and after receiving first aid treatment he was directed to the
rear. Disregarding these instructions, 1st Lt. Bronson remained on duty
with his company through the night although suffering from severe pain
and shock. On the morning of 27 September, his regiment resumed its
attack,
the object being the village of Eclisfontaine. Company H, to which 1st
Lt. Bronson was assigned, was left in support of the attacking line,
Company
E being in the line. He gallantly joined that company in spite of his
wounds
and engaged with it in the capture of the village. After the capture he
remained with Company E and participated with it in the capture of an
enemy
machinegun, he himself killing the enemy gunner. Shortly after this
encounter
the company was compelled to retire due to the heavy enemy artillery
barrage.
During this retirement 1st Lt. Bronson, who was the last man to leave
the
advanced position, was again wounded in both arms by an enemy
high-explosive
shell. He was then assisted to cover by another officer who applied
first
aid. Although bleeding profusely and faint from the loss of blood, 1st
Lt. Bronson remained with the survivors of the company throughout the
night
of the second day, refusing to go to the rear for treatment. His
conspicuous
gallantry and spirit of self-sacrifice were a source of great
inspiration
to the members of the entire command.
SIEGEL, JOHN OTTO
Rank and organization Boatswain's Mate Second Class,
U.S.
Navy. Born: 21 April 1890, Milwaukee, Wis. Accredited to: New Jersey.
Citation:
For extraordinary heroism while serving on board the Mohawk in
performing
a rescue mission aboard the schooner Hjeltenaes which was in flames on
1 November 1918. Going aboard the blazing vessel, Siegel rescued 2 men
from the crew's quarters and went back the third time. Immediately
after
he had entered the crew's quarters, a steam pipe over the door bursted,
making it impossible for him to escape. Siegel was overcome with smoke
and fell to the deck, being finally rescued by some of the crew of the
Mohawk who carried him out and rendered first aid.
SLACK, CLAYTON K.
Rank and organization: Private, U.S. Army, Company
D,
124th Machine Gun Battalion, 33d Division. Place and date: Near
Consenvoye,
France, 8 October 1918. Entered service at: Madison, Wis. Born: 23
February
1896, Plover, Wis. G.O. No.: 16, W.D., 1919. Citation: Observing German
soldiers under cover 50 yards away on the left flank, Pvt. Slack, upon
his own initiative, rushed them with his rifle and, single-handed,
captured
10 prisoners and 2 heavy-type machineguns, thus saving his company and
neighboring organizations from heavy casualties.
WHITTLESEY, CHARLES W.
Rank and organization: Major, U.S. Army, 308th Infantry, 77th Division. Place and date: Northeast of Binarville, in the forest of Argonne France, 2-7 October 1918. Entered service at: Pittsfield, Mass. Birth. Florence, Wis. G.O. No.: 118, W.D., 1918. Citation: Although cut off for 5 days from the remainder of his division, Maj. Whittlesey maintained his position, which he had reached under orders received for an advance, and held his command, consisting originally of 46 officers and men of the 308th Infantry and of Company K of the 307th Infantry, together in the face of superior numbers of the enemy during the 5 days. Maj. Whittlesey and his command were thus cut off, and no rations or other supplies reached him, in spite of determined efforts which were made by his division. On the 4th day Maj. Whittlesey received from the enemy a written proposition to surrender, which he treated with contempt, although he was at the time out of rations and had suffered a loss of about 50 percent in killed and wounded of his command and was surrounded by the enemy.

revised 19 September 2008
since 14 February 1999