b. 30/10/1899 Greene County, Tennessee. d. 15/12/1967 Morristown, Tennessee.
DATE OF MOH ACTION: 08/10/1918 near Estrees, France.
Calvin John Ward was born on October 30, 1899, in Greene County, Tennessee and lived in Morristown, Tennessee. Ward entered active duty with the United States Army’s 117th Regiment from the Tennessee National Guard during World War I. On October 8, 1918, during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive, Ward’s company was stopped near Estrées, France by a German machine gun position. Ward and Sergeant James Ernest Karnes, deciding they had “had all they could take” of this situation, fixed bayonets, charged and captured the position. This freed their company to advance against German lines in the last major offensive of the war. Both men received the Medal of Honor for extraordinary heroism in this action.
MOH CITATION:
During an advance, Pvt. Ward’s company was held up by a machine gun, which was enfilading the line. Accompanied by a noncommissioned officer, he advanced against this post and succeeded in reducing the nest by killing three and capturing seven of the enemy and their guns.
BURIAL LOCATION: GLENWOOD CEMETERY, BRISTOL. TENNESSEE.
SECTION 2, LOT 88, SPACE 11.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: FAMILY.