Medal of Honor: Frank J. Bart, World War I, October 3, 1918

Name: Frank J. Bart
Rank: Private
War: World War I
Date of Action: October 3, 1918
Unit: Company C, 9th Infantry, 2d Division
Accredited to: Newark, New Jersey

Summary of Action
Near Medeah Ferme, France, Private Frank Bart was serving as a company runner when his unit’s advance stalled under the fire of a German machine gun nest. Acting on instinct and courage, he picked up an automatic rifle and rushed forward alone, cutting down the gunners and silencing the weapon. The attack resumed, only to be halted again by another nest. Bart repeated his daring charge, storming through fire to eliminate the second crew. His actions cleared the path for his company’s advance and demonstrated the power of one soldier’s resolve against overwhelming fire.

Medal of Honor Citation
BART, FRANK J.
Rank and organization: Private, U.S. Army, Company C, 9th Infantry, 2d Division. Place and date: Near Medeah Ferme, France, 3 October 1918. Entered service at: Newark, N.J. Birth: New York, N.Y. G.O. No.: 16, W.D., 1919. Citation: Pvt. Bart, being on duty as a company runner, when the advance was held up by machinegun fire voluntarily picked up an automatic rifle, ran out ahead of the line, and silenced a hostile machinegun nest, killing the German gunners. The advance then continued, and when it was again hindered shortly afterward by another machinegun nest this courageous soldier repeated his bold exploit by putting the second machinegun out of action.