James C. Dozier Medal of Honor citation
The President of the United States in the name of The Congress takes pleasure in presenting the MEDAL OF HONOR to
FIRST LIEUTENANT
JAMES C. DOZIER
ARMY
For service as set forth in the following
CITATION:
The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to First Lieutenant (Infantry) James C. Dozier, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism on 8 October 1918, while serving with Company G, 118th Infantry, 30th Division, in action at Montbrehain, France. In command of two platoons, First Lieutenant Dozier was painfully wounded in the shoulder early in the attack, but he continued to lead his men displaying the highest bravery and skill. When his command was held up by heavy machinegun fire, he disposed his men in the best cover available and with a soldier continued forward to attack a machinegun nest. Creeping up to the position in the face of intense fire, he killed the entire crew with hand grenades and his pistol and a little later captured a number of Germans who had taken refuge in a dugout nearby.
Born: 17 Feb., 1885, Galivants Ferry, S.C…. Departed: 24 Oct., 1974… Interred: Elmwood Cemetery, Columbia, S.C…. Company G, 118th Infantry Regiment, 30th Infantry Division… Joined the 118th Infantry Regiment in 1904 and served in the Gen. Pershing’s Punitive Expedition against Pancho Villa before being sent to World War I… Awarded the Purple Heart, Military Cross (UK), Chevalier of the Legion of Honour (France), and the Croix de Guerre (France)… “Mr. National Guard” retired as a colonel in 1959… Son James served as an officer with the 11th Airborne Division and saw action in the Pacific Theater of World War II, earning a Purple Heart and Bronze Star, and retired as a colonel.