b. 12/11/1889 Gloucester, Massachusetts. d. 15/07/1955 Portsmouth, Rhode Island.
DATE OF MOH ACTION: 23/04/1918 French Front, France.
Alexander G Lyle MOH
Lyle was born in Gloucester, Massachusetts, on November 12, 1889. After graduating high school he went to Baltimore College, graduating in 1912 with a degree in dentistry. He accepted a commission in the navy as a lieutenant (junior grade) in 1915 while living in Massachusetts and retired August 1, 1948, at the rank of vice admiral.
Lyle was serving as a dental officer with the 5th Regiment of the United States Marine Corps on the French front during World War I. On April 23, 1918, he risked his life to rescue a corporal who had been seriously wounded during heavy shellfire. He saved the corporal’s life by treating his wounds using surgical aid and became one of only three dental officers in history to receive the Medal of Honor. At the time of the award the navy still had two different versions of the Medal of Honor, one for combat operations and one for noncombat operations. For his actions saving the corporal’s life, Lyle received the combat version of the Medal, known as the Tiffany Cross. He is one of only three dental officers to have received the medal, the others being Weedon Osborne and Ben L. Salomon.
MOH CITATION:
For extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty while serving with the 5th Regiment, U.S. Marine Corps. Under heavy shellfire, 23 April 1918, on the French front, Lt. Comdr. Lyle rushed to the assistance of Cpl. Thomas Regan, who was seriously wounded, and administered such effective surgical aid while bombardment was still continuing as to save the life of Cpl. Regan.
BURIAL LOCATION: ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY, ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA.
SECTION 2, GRAVE 1114-1.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: NATIONAL NAVAL MEDICAL CENTRE, BETHESDA, MARYLAND.
