Medal of Honor: Reidar Waaler, World War I, September 27, 1918

Name: Reidar Waaler
Rank: Sergeant
War: World War I
Date of Action: September 27, 1918
Unit: Company A, 105th Machine-Gun Battalion, 27th Division
Accredited to: New York, New York

Summary of Action
During the desperate fighting near Ronssoy, France, a British tank supporting the American advance was struck and set ablaze. Enemy artillery and machine guns raked the ground, but Sergeant Reidar Waaler did not hesitate. He crawled forward to the burning vehicle, where trapped crewmen cried out inside the steel coffin. Braving the flames and the threat of exploding ammunition, Waaler pulled two men from the inferno. When told there might be others inside, he returned—entering the fiery wreck to search every corner. Only when certain no more lives could be saved did he withdraw. His fearless rescue under impossible conditions stands as a testament to valor beyond measure.

Medal of Honor Citation
WAALER, REIDAR
Rank and organization: Sergeant, U.S. Army, Company A, 105th Machine-Gun Battalion, 27th Division. Place and date: Near Ronssoy, France, 27 September 1918. Entered service at: New York, N.Y. Birth: Norway. G.O. No.: 5, W.D., 1920. Citation: In the face of heavy artillery and machinegun fire, he crawled forward to a burning British tank, in which some of the crew were imprisoned, and succeeded in rescuing 2 men. Although the tank was then burning fiercely and contained ammunition which was likely to explode at any time, this soldier immediately returned to the tank and, entering it, made a search for the other occupants, remaining until he satisfied himself that there were no more living men in the tank.