A First War Medal of Honor for Heroism at Bois-de-Forges

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A First War Medal of Honor for Heroism at Bois-de-Forges

A First War Medal of Honor for Heroism at Bois-de-Forges; Army Medal of Honor (bronze gilt and enamels, engraved "CAPTAIN GEORGE H. MALLON 132 INF. 33 DIV." on the reverse, 38.5 mm x 56.2 mm inclusive of its eagle and VALOR suspension, on an original full-length neck ribbon with thirteen star horizontal vertical cravat pad sewn in place, dual snap closure, intact enamels); Victory Medal, 1 Clasp - MEUSE-ARGONNE (bronze gilt, 36 mm); France: Order of the Legion of Honour, Knight (silver gilt and enamels, hallmarked on the reverse, 40.3 mm x 56 mm inclusive of its wreath suspension, dual prong attachments, enamel chipping on the obverse centrepiece ring); and France: War Cross 1914-1918 (bronze, inscribed "1914-1918" on the reverse centrepiece, 37 mm, bronze palm on the ribbon). Un-mounted, original ribbons, glue evident on the reverse of the VM from previous board mounting, near extremely fine. Footnote: George H. Mallon was born on June 15, 1877 in Ogden, Kansas. He enlisted with the Army at Minneapolis, Minnesota and was commissioned as a Captain in August 1917. He was described as "a big, iron-fisted, square-jawed Irishman....with steel-blue eyes and a steel-blue will". Captain Mallon was with the 132nd Infantry Regiment, 33rd Infantry Division when he was awarded his Medal of Honor for actions on September 26, 1918 at Bois-de-Forges, France, by the War Department, Generals Orders No. 16 on January 22, 1919. His citation states: "The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Captain (Infantry) H. Mallon, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism on 26 September 1918, while serving with Company E, 132d Infantry, 33d Division, in action at Bois-de-Forges, France. Becoming separated from the balance of his company because of a fog, Captain Mallon, with 9 soldiers, pushed forward and attacked 9 active hostile machineguns, capturing all of them without the loss of a man. Continuing on through the woods, he led his men in attacking a battery of four 155-millimeter howitzers, which were in action, rushing the position and capturing the battery and its crew. In this encounter Captain Mallon personally attacked one of the enemy with his fists. Later, when the party came upon 2 more machineguns, this officer sent men to the flanks while he rushed forward directly in the face of the fire and silenced the guns, being the first one of the party to reach the nest. The exceptional gallantry and determination displayed by Captain Mallon resulted in the capture of 100 prisoners, 11 machineguns, four 155-millimeter howitzers and 1 anti-aircraft gun." Mallon was honorably discharged in June 1919. He died on August 2, 1934, at the age of 57 and is buried at Fort Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis.