Medal of Honor: Nelson M. Holderman, World War I, October 2-8, 1918

Name: Nelson M. Holderman
Rank: Captain
War: World War I
Dates of Action: October 2–8, 1918
Unit: 307th Infantry Regiment, 77th Division
Entered Service At: Santa Ana, California
Born: Trumbull, Nebraska

Summary of Action
Deep in the Argonne Forest, Captain Nelson Holderman found himself and his men cut off with Major Charles Whittlesey’s now-famous “Lost Battalion.” For nearly a week, surrounded on all sides by German forces, Holderman refused to bend. Through unending shellfire, snipers, and starvation, he kept his company together and inspired those around him to hold the line. On October 4, 5, and 7, he was successively wounded—each time refusing evacuation. On the sixth day of the siege, while bleeding and barely able to stand, Holderman charged into machine gun and artillery fire to rescue two wounded soldiers, carrying them through the storm of bullets to safety. Though in agony, he continued to lead, fight, and rally his men until relief forces broke through on October 8. His endurance, courage, and devotion under impossible odds helped save what remained of the Lost Battalion and became a timeless symbol of American resolve.

Medal of Honor Citation
HOLDERMAN, NELSON M.
Rank and organization: Captain, U.S. Army, 307th Infantry, 77th Division. Place and date: Northeast of Binarville, in the forest of Argonne, France, 2–8 October 1918. Entered service at: Santa Ana, Calif. Birth: Trumbell, Nebr. G.O. No.: 11, W.D., 1921. Citation: Capt. Holderman commanded a company of a battalion which was cut off and surrounded by the enemy. He was wounded on 4, 5, and 7 October, but throughout the entire period, suffering great pain and subjected to fire of every character, he continued personally to lead and encourage the officers and men under his command with unflinching courage and with distinguished success. On 6 October, in a wounded condition, he rushed through enemy machinegun and shell fire and carried 2 wounded men to a place of safety.