Medal of Honor: John Henry, World War I, October 3, 1918
John Henry Pruitt stormed two machine guns, captured forty prisoners, and fought on until shellfire claimed him. For this, he received both the Army and Navy Medals of Honor.
October 3, 2025
Name: John Henry Pruitt
Rank: Corporal
War: World War I
Date of Action: October 3, 1918
Unit: 78th Company, 6th Regiment, 2d Division, U.S. Marine Corps
Accredited to: Arizona
Summary of Action
At Blanc Mont Ridge, France, Corporal John Henry Pruitt fought with fearless determination. Acting alone, he charged and captured two German machine gun positions, killing two enemy soldiers in the assault. Pressing deeper, he discovered a dugout and singlehandedly forced the surrender of forty German soldiers. Even after this feat, Pruitt continued fighting until he was struck and killed by shellfire while sniping at the enemy. For his gallantry and sacrifice, Pruitt was posthumously awarded both the Army Medal of Honor and the Navy Medal of Honor, one of only nineteen Americans to ever receive both.
Medal of Honor Citation (Army Medal)
PRUITT, JOHN HENRY (Army Medal)
Rank and organization: Corporal, U.S. Marine Corps, 78th Company, 6th Regiment, 2d Division. Place and date: At Blanc Mont Ridge, France, 3 October 1918. Entered service at: Phoenix, Ariz. Born: 4 October 1896, Fayettesville, Ark. G.O. No.: 62, W.D., 1919. (Also received Navy Medal of Honor.) Citation: Cpl. Pruitt single-handed attacked 2 machineguns, capturing them and killing 2 of the enemy. He then captured 40 prisoners in a dugout nearby. This gallant soldier was killed soon afterward by shellfire while he was sniping at the enemy.
Medal of Honor Citation (Navy Medal)
PRUITT, JOHN HENRY (Navy Medal)
Rank and organization: Corporal, U.S. Marine Corps. Born: 4 October 1896, Fayettesville, Ark. Accredited to: Arizona. (Also received Army Medal of Honor.) Citation: For extraordinary gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty while serving with the 78th Company, 6th Regiment, 2d Division, in action with the enemy at Blanc Mont Ridge, France, 3 October 1918. Cpl. Pruitt, single-handed attacked 2 machineguns, capturing them and killing 2 of the enemy. He then captured 40 prisoners in a dugout nearby. This gallant soldier was killed soon afterward by shellfire while he was sniping the enemy.
