Marcellus Holmes Chiles (1895 - 1918)

Born 5 Feb 1895 in Eureka Springs, Carroll, Arkansas, United States

Died 5 Nov 1918 at age 23 in France

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Biography

Marcellus Chiles is Notable.

Marcellus Chiles was awarded the Medal of Honor.

Captain Marcellus Chiles served in the United States Army in World War I
Service started: 1918
Unit(s): 89th Infantry Division
Service ended: 5 Nov 1918

Marcellus Holmes Chiles was born on February 5, 1895 in Eureka Springs, Arkansas. He was the oldest child of John Horne Chiles and Lillian Irene Hughes.^[1][2]

Sometime before 1900, the family moved to Denver, Colorado.^[1] After graduating high school, he enrolled at Colorado College in Colorado Springs. During his sophomore year in 1918, he enlisted in the U.S. Army. He was sent to Fort Riley, Kansas for officer training, and upon completion of the program, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant, and on February 18, 1918, he was promoted to first lieutenant.^[2][1] He was sent to Europe with the 356th Infantry Regiment, 89th Division. He saw action at Saint-Mihiel, France in August.^[1][2] On November 3, four days after being promoted to Captain, his battalion saw action at the Meuse-Argonne Offensive. In command of the battalion, he oversaw the attack against a large German force. While leading his men through the waist-deep stream, they came under machine gun fire. He was seriously wounded in the abdomen by a sniper, but he continued to lead his men, refusing to evacuate until arrangements could be made to turn over his command to the next senior officer. He was later moved to a hospital, but died of his wounds on November 5, 1918. His parents did not receive word of his death until 3 months later, on January 24, 1919.^[1][2]

For his service, he was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross on January 7, 1919. He was awarded the Medal of Honor on April 15, 1919 for his "conspicuous gallantry." His remains were never returned to the United States. He was interred with full military honors in the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery and Memorial at Romagne, France.^[1][2][3]

The American Legion Post No. 41 in Colorado was named in his honor. Later, The post was combined with two others, creating the Leuyden-Chiles-Wickersham Post No. 1. He was also honored with other Medal of Honor recipients from Arkansas, by a monument located on the state capitol grounds in Little Rock, Pulaski County.^[1]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6} Polston, Mike. Encyclopedia of Arkansas, last updated on 18 Jan 2022. "Marcellus Holmes Chiles (1895-1918)." Accessed 15 Mar 2023.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4} Wikipedia Contributors. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, last updated on 4 Sep 2022. "Marcellus H. Chiles." Accessed 15 Mar 2023.
3. ↑ Congressional Medal of Honor Society, World War I - U.S. Army. "Marcellus Holmes Chiles." Accessed 15 Mar 2023.