Medal of Honor: James E. Karnes, World War I October 8, 1918

Name: James E. Karnes
Rank: Sergeant
War: World War I
Date of Action: October 8, 1918
Unit: Company D, 117th Infantry Regiment, 30th Division
Entered Service At: Knoxville, Tennessee
Born: 1889, Arlington, Tennessee

Summary of Action
As the 30th Division pushed forward near Estrees, France, on October 8, 1918, Sergeant James Karnes’s company found itself pinned down by a German machine gun nest pouring deadly fire across their line. Without hesitation, Karnes and one fellow soldier rose and advanced directly toward the source of the fire, darting between shell craters and debris as bullets tore the air around them. Reaching the enemy position, Karnes opened fire at point-blank range, killing three of the German crew. He and his comrade captured the remaining seven defenders and seized their guns, clearing the way for the rest of the company to continue the attack. His fearless determination and quick action turned the tide of the engagement and saved countless lives on the field that day.

Medal of Honor Citation
KARNES, JAMES E.
Rank and organization: Sergeant, U.S. Army, Company D, 117th Infantry, 30th Division. Place and date: Near Estrees, France, 8 October 1918. Entered service at: Knoxville, Tenn. Born: 1889, Arlington, Tenn. G.O. No.: 50, W.D., 1919. Citation: During an advance, his company was held up by a machinegun, which was enfilading the line. Accompanied by another soldier, he advanced against this position and succeeded in reducing the nest by killing 3 and capturing 7 of the enemy and their guns.