Medal of Honor: Arthur J. Forrest – World War I – November 1, 1918
In the final days of the Great War, Sergeant Arthur J. Forrest crawled alone toward six roaring German machine guns — and then charged straight through them to save his men.
November 1, 2025
Name: Arthur J. Forrest
Rank: Sergeant
War: World War I
Date of Action: November 1, 1918
Unit: Company D, 354th Infantry Regiment, 89th Division
Entered Service At: Hannibal, Missouri
Born: St. Louis, Missouri
Summary of Action
As the 89th Division advanced through the shattered French countryside near Remonville, heavy German machine gun fire tore into the American lines, halting the attack and pinning down Sergeant Arthur Forrest’s company. Realizing that his men were moments away from being wiped out, Forrest crawled alone through open ground toward the enemy nest, weaving through mud and smoke until he was within 50 yards of the guns.
Then, with no cover and no support, he rose to his feet and charged directly into the fire. Grenades and rifle in hand, he stormed the enemy position single-handedly, scattering the gunners and silencing all six weapons. His fearless assault broke the strongpoint and allowed his company to resume its advance.
Forrest’s raw courage under fire and willingness to face death alone turned certain defeat into victory — a testament to the indomitable spirit of the American soldier in World War I.
Medal of Honor Citation
Place and date: Near Remonville, France, 1 November 1918.
Entered service at: Hannibal, Mo.
Birth: St. Louis, Mo.
G.O. No.: 50, W.D., 1919.
Citation:
When the advance of his company was stopped by bursts of fire from a nest of 6 enemy machineguns, without being discovered, he worked his way single-handed to a point within 50 yards of the machinegun nest. Charging, single-handed, he drove out the enemy in disorder, thereby protecting the advance platoon from annihilating fire, and permitting the resumption of the advance of his company.
