The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
Compiled and Edited by Virginia Ross
Stronghurst Graphic, Nov. 30, 1922:
(Here is the story of a local boy who was awarded the Medal of Honor. He was born June 5, 1890 at Silver Run, Maryland to Addison S. and Sarah C. Morelandand; he had two older sisters, Grace and Mary. He died June 5, 1964 and is buried in Arlington Cemetery, Washington, D.C. A reserve center at Hunt Armory, and a hazardous land fill in the Pittsburg, Pa. area are named for him.)
WORLD WAR I HERO: Monmouth, Il.-Sterling Morelock of Henderson County is now listed among the bravest of the brave of his country's highest honors for gallantry in action having been bestowed upon him yesterday afternoon at fitting military ceremonies. The awarding of the Congressional Medal of Honor took place Sunday afternoon at the west entrance of the public square before a crowd of several hundred persons, citizens of Warren and Henderson County alike.
Long before the hour of the ceremony, the crowd started assembling and when three o'clock came all places of vantage were taken. All around the edge of the big enclosure there was a solid wall of humanity and when Major Bereth awarded the Medal of Honor to Morelock deafening applause broke forth.
Shortly after three o'clock the first battalion of the 123rd F.A. consisting of Battery B, the Combat Train and a detail from Battery A of Galesburg entered the enclosure. The troops were deployed in the square where Major Bereth and his aid, Lieut. Ahlstrand, were waiting with the presentation of the medal and to be read to the battalion by Captain Hardin, adjutant to the major. Three outfits were then called to attention, guidons (small flags) were dropped and the medal was presented by the major.
The battalion then passed in review and after the troops had left the enclosure, citizens rushed to congratulate Morelock. Owing to his physical condition he was not permitted to stand long in the open, being taken back to the armory in the official car of Major Bereth.
Morelock took the honor bestowed upon him yesterday as a matter of course. To an Atlas reporter he stated that a man cannot be held accountable for what he does in battle. "There is so much danger that no job seems worse than any other," Morelock said. "I did not have any idea that I had earned this high honor," Morelock stated. "Some time ago I received notice that the medal had been awarded, but I thought they had me mixed up with some other soldier by the same name. The work of getting the medal for me was done by my commanding officers who did not inform me as to what they were doing. I am sorry that Lieutenant Lawton could not be here but from what I know of the injuries he received, he must be in bad condition physically now. I certainly appreciate the medal and will treasure it as long as I live."
The Citation
For the benefit of those who have not read the official citation on which Mr. Morelock was awarded the highest honor, it is being reprinted today as follows:
"Sterling Morelock, No. 2261521 Private, Company M. 28th Infantry, 1st Division. For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty to action with the enemy near Exermont, France, Oct. 4, 1918. While his company was being held up by heavy enemy fire, Private Morelock with three other men who were acting as runners at Company headquarters voluntarily led them as a patrol in advance of his company's front line through an intense rifle, artillery and machine gun fire and penetrated a woods which formed the German front line. Encountering a series of five hostile machine gun nests, containing from one to five machines in each, with his patrol he cleaned them all out, gained and held complete mastery of the situation until the arrival of his company commander with enforcements even though his entire party had become causalities. He rendered first aid to the injured and evacuated them by using as stretcher bearers then German prisoners whom he had captured. Soon thereafter his company commander was wounded and while dressing his wound, Private Morelock was very seriously wounded in the hip, which forced his evacuation. His hero's action and devotion to duty were an inspiration to the entire regiment.
In connection with the reading of the citation, Captain Hardin also read the following: War Department, The Adjutant General's Office, Washington, D.C., Oct. 12, 1922. "Under the provisions of the act of Congress approved July 9, 1918 as amended by the act of Congress approved April 7, 1922, the Congressional Medal of Honor was awarded by the War Department in the name of Congress on Oct. 7, 1922 to Sterling Morelock, Private, Company M, 28th Infantry, 1st Division. (Having recently, read Over There and Back Again by Lt. Joseph F. Smith detailing his experience as a soldier in Canadian, British and American armies at the front and no man's land, I sincerely appreciate Pvt. Morelock bravery. This book was recently donated to the World War I Museum in Kansas City, Mo. by a Henderson County resident.)
28th Infantry in World War I
Following the entry of the US into WWI, the Regiment was assigned on June 8, 1917 to the First Expeditionary Division which later became the First Infantry Division. On June 29, the men of Company K became the first American combat unit to set foot on European soil at St. Nazaire, France. The Regiment distinguished itself by conducting the first offensive operations by US troops in WWI at Cantigny, where, in a viciously fought three-day battle, the 28th Infantry captured the town of Cantigny and then withstood five determined German counterattacks. Here the "Lions of Cantigny" were born and the prestige of the American fighting man was upheld before the world. The Regiment also fought in the battles of Soissons, the Argonne and Sedan. It suffered more than 5000 casualties in this war. Three of its members were awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for their heroism: Sergeant Michael B. Ellis of Co B, Private Sterling Morelock of Co M and 2nd Lieutenant Samuel I. Parker of Co K.
Regimental Arms of the 28th Infantry