Medal of Honor: Frank Gaffney, World War I, September 29, 1918
Alone in no man’s land, Frank Gaffney kept fighting. With rifle, grenades, and pistol, he silenced a machine gun, cleared dugouts, and held until reinforcements arrived—with 80 prisoners taken.
September 29, 2025
Name: Frank Gaffney
Rank: Private First Class
War: World War I
Date of Action: September 29, 1918
Unit: Company G, 108th Infantry, 27th Division
Accredited to: Niagara Falls, New York
Summary of Action
Near Ronssoy, France, Pfc. Gaffney’s squad was annihilated, leaving him alone with his automatic rifle in the midst of the battle. Instead of withdrawing, he pressed forward and spotted Germans setting up a heavy machine gun. Charging headlong, he killed the crew and seized the weapon. He then hurled grenades into enemy dugouts, scattering defenders, and killed four more Germans with his pistol in close combat. Gaffney held the captured ground singlehandedly until reinforcements reached him. His fearless stand not only blunted the German defense but resulted in the capture of 80 prisoners. His lone charge stands as one of the war’s most remarkable acts of individual valor.
Medal of Honor Citation
GAFFNEY, FRANK
Rank and organization: Private First Class, U.S. Army, Company G, 108th Infantry, 27th Division. Place and date: Near Ronssoy, France, 29 September 1918. Entered service at: Niagara Falls, N.Y. Birth: Buffalo, N.Y. G.O. No.: 20, W.D., 1919. Citation: Pfc. Gaffney, an automatic rifleman, pushing forward alone, after all the other members of his squad had been killed, discovered several Germans placing a heavy machinegun in position. He killed the crew, captured the gun, bombed several dugouts, and, after killing 4 more of the enemy with his pistol, held the position until reinforcements came up, when 80 prisoners were captured.
