| Earle Davis Gregory | |
|---|---|
| Born | October 18, 1897 Clayville, Virginia |
| Died | January 6, 1972 (aged 74) Tuscaloosa, Alabama |
| Place of burial | Tuscaloosa Memorial Park, Tuscaloosa, Alabama |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Service/branch | United States Army |
| Rank | Sergeant |
| Unit | Headquarters Company, 116th Infantry, U.S. 29th Infantry Division, U.S. Army National Guard |
| Battles/wars | World War I *Meuse-Argonne Offensive, France |
| Awards | Medal of Honor (1918) Croix de Guerre Legion of Honor Medaille Militaire Montengrin Order of Merit |
Earle Davis Gregory (October 18, 1897—January 6, 1972) was a World War I Medal of Honor recipient for his heroic actions in 1918 during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive in France.
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Davis was born in Clayville, Virginia on October 18, 1897. He was a 1923 graduate of Virginia Polytechnic Institute (VPI), a member of the VPI Corps of Cadets.
He was a native of Chase City, Virginia and graduate of Fork Union Military Academy. Earle Gregory entered Virginia Polytechnic Institute in 1919 with the Class of 1923. While at VPI, he studied Electrical Engineering. During his senior year, he served as a company commander and President of the Corps of Cadets. He was voted Most Popular Cadet by his peers during his senor year.
He enlisted at Chase City, Virginia in the U.S. Army during World War I. Earle Gregory received the Medal of Honor for actions as a U.S. Army sergeant during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive in World War I. He is considered to be the first Virginian to receive the medal and often called the Sergeant York of Virginia. On October 8, 1918, Sgt Earl D. Gregory at Bois-de-Consenvoye, north of Verdun, France, seized a rifle and trench-mortar shell, which he used as a hand grenade. Shouting "I will get them", he left his detachment of the trench-mortar platoon, and advancing ahead of the infantry, captured a machinegun and three of the enemy. Advancing still farther from the machinegun nest, he captured a 7.5-centimeter mountain howitzer and, entering a dugout in the immediate vicinity, single-handedly captured 19 of the enemy. For this act he received the Medal of Honor.
Major General Omar Bundy presented Gregory his medal in a ceremony at Camp Lee, Virginia on April 29, 1919. He was also awarded the Croix de Guerre, Medal of the Legion of Honor, Medaille Militaire, and the Montengrin Order of Merit for his actions during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive.
On January 6, 1972, Gregory died at his home in Tuscaloosa, Alabama and is buried at the Tuscaloosa Memorial Park. His grave can be found in Section 18, Lot 60.
The Virginia Tech precision military marching unit, The Gregory Guard, was named in honor of Sgt Gregory on May 1963.
Rank and organization: Sergeant, U.S. Army, Headquarters Company, 116th Infantry, 29th Division. Place and date: At Bois-de-Consenvoye, north of Verdun, France, October 8, 1918. Entered service at: Chase City, Va. Birth: Chase City, Va. G.O. No.: 34, W.D., 1919.
Citation:
With the remark "I will get them," Sgt. Gregory seized a rifle and a trench-mortar shell, which he used as a handgrenade, left his detachment of the trench-mortar platoon, and advancing ahead of the infantry, captured a machinegun and 3 of the enemy. Advancing still farther from the machinegun nest, he captured a 7.5-centimeter mountain howitzer and, entering a dugout in the immediate vicinity, single-handedly captured 19 of the enemy.[1]