Medal of Honor: Thomas C. Neibaur, World War I, October 16, 1918

Name: Thomas C. Neibaur
Rank: Private
War: World War I
Date of Action: October 16, 1918
Unit: Company M, 107th Infantry Regiment, 42nd “Rainbow” Division
Born: May 17, 1898 – Sharon, Idaho
Entered Service At: Sugar City, Idaho

Summary of Action
As the 42nd Division fought for control of the Cote-de-Châtillon—a critical German stronghold in the Kriemhilde Stellung—Private Thomas Neibaur was sent forward with his automatic rifle squad to silence enemy machine guns that threatened his company’s advance. Reaching the crest, he opened fire before being hit in both legs by enemy bullets. Surrounded and cut off, with every other man in his squad killed or wounded, Neibaur stayed in the fight. Alone on the ridge, he continued firing his weapon until the enemy assault broke against him.

When four German soldiers charged his position, Neibaur killed them all. Then, limping and in agony, he advanced among the stunned enemy lying prone before him—capturing eleven prisoners at pistol point and herding them back across the ridge to American lines. His solitary stand halted a German counterattack, saved his company, and earned him the admiration of all who witnessed his courage silhouetted against the skyline.

Medal of Honor Citation
NEIBAUR, THOMAS C.
Rank and organization: Private, U.S. Army, Company M, 107th Infantry, 42d Division. Place and date: Near Landres-et-St. Georges, France, 16 October 1918. Entered service at: Sugar City, Idaho. Born: 17 May 1898, Sharon, Idaho. G.O. No.: 118, W.D., 1918.
Citation: On the afternoon of 16 October 1918, when the Cote-de-Chatillon had just been gained after bitter fighting and the summit of that strong bulwark in the Kriemhilde Stellung was being organized, Pvt. Neibaur was sent out on patrol with his automatic rifle squad to enfilade enemy machinegun nests. As he gained the ridge he set up his automatic rifle and was directly thereafter wounded in both legs by fire from a hostile machinegun on his flank. The advance wave of the enemy troops, counterattacking, had about gained the ridge, and although practically cut off and surrounded, the remainder of his detachment being killed or wounded, this gallant soldier kept his automatic rifle in operation to such effect that by his own efforts and by fire from the skirmish line of his company, at least 100 yards in his rear, the attack was checked. The enemy wave being halted and lying prone, 4 of the enemy attacked Pvt. Neibaur at close quarters. These he killed. He then moved alone among the enemy lying on the ground about him, in the midst of the fire from his own lines, and by coolness and gallantry captured 11 prisoners at the point of his pistol and, although painfully wounded, brought them back to our lines. The counterattack in full force was arrested to a large extent by the single efforts of this soldier, whose heroic exploits took place against the skyline in full view of his entire battalion.