Medal of Honor: Michael Valente, World War I, September 29, 1918
When the Hindenburg Line stalled the American advance, Michael Valente charged straight into machine gun fire. By day’s end, he had destroyed two nests, cleared a trench, and captured 21 Germans.
September 29, 2025
Name: Michael Valente
Rank: Private
War: World War I
Date of Action: September 29, 1918
Unit: Company D, 107th Infantry, 27th Division
Accredited to: Ogdensburg, New York
Summary of Action
During the assault on the Hindenburg Line near Ronssoy, France, Private Valente saw his unit pinned down by withering fire. Volunteering to advance, he and a single comrade rushed across the open ground into the storm of bullets. They overran the first machine gun nest, killing two and capturing five. Spotting a second gun pouring fire into the Americans, Valente led another charge, killing the gunner and silencing the weapon. Without pause, the pair leapt into the enemy trench system, killing two more and capturing sixteen others. His fearless attack opened the way for his company to advance. Though later wounded, Valente’s gallantry in the face of overwhelming firepower helped break the enemy’s strongest defenses.
Medal of Honor Citation
VALENTE, MICHAEL
Rank and organization: Private, U.S. Army, Company D, 107th Infantry, 27th Division. Place and date: East of Ronssoy, France, 29 September 1918. Entered service at: Ogdensburg, N.Y. Born: 5 February 1895, Cassino, Italy. G.O. No.: 16, W.D., 1929. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action with the enemy during the operations against the Hindenburg line, east of Ronssoy, France, 29 September 1918. Finding the advance of his organization held up by a withering enemy machinegun fire, Pvt. Valente volunteered to go forward. With utter disregard of his own personal danger, accompanied by another soldier, Pvt. Valente rushed forward through an intense machinegun fire directly upon the enemy nest, killing 2 and capturing 5 of the enemy and silencing the gun. Discovering another machinegun nest close by which was pouring a deadly fire on the American forces, preventing their advance, Pvt. Valente and his companion charged upon this strong point, killing the gunner and putting this machinegun out of action. Without hesitation they jumped into the enemy’s trench, killed 2 and captured 16 German soldiers. Pvt. Valente was later wounded and sent to the rear.
