Calvin John Ward

Calvin John Ward (30 October, 1899–15 December, 1967), was a soldier in the United States Army National Guard who was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions during World War I.

Biography

Calvin John Ward was born on 30 October in 1899 in Greene County, Tennessee and lived in Morristown, Tennessee. Karnes entered active duty with the United States Army's 117th Regiment from the Tennessee National Guard during World War I. On 8 October, 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 won the Medal of Honor for extraordinary heroism in this action.

Calvin Ward died on 15 December 1967 and is buried in Glenwood Cemetery Sullivan, Tennessee.

Medal of Honor citation

Rank and organization: Private, U.S. Army, Company D, 117th Infantry, 30th Division. Place and date: Near Estrees, France, 8 October 1918. Entered service at: Morristown, Tenn. Born: October 1898, Green County, Tenn. G.O. No.: 16, W.D., 1919.

Citation:

During an advance, Pvt. Ward's company was held up by a machinegun, which was enfilading the line. Accompanied by a noncommissioned officer, he advanced against this post and succeeded in reducing the nest by killing 3 and capturing 7 of the enemy and their guns.

See also

• List of Medal of Honor recipients
• List of Medal of Honor recipients for World War I

References

• Regimental History & Lineage - 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment
• Greene County Doughboys: Calvin John Ward, Medal of Honor Recipient
• East Tennessee Medal of Honor winners