Sgt. Earle D. Gregory
Born in Powhatan County on 18 Oct. 1897, Earle D. Gregory enlisted in 1914 at Chase City in the Virginia Volunteers (Virginia National Guard). He served in the 116th Inf. Regt., 29th Inf. Div., in WWI. On the first day of combat near Verdun, France, on 8 Oct. 1918, heavy German machine-gun fire stalled the division's attack. Saying, "I will get them," Gregory seized a rifle and trench-mortar shell, moved ahead of his platoon, and singlehandedly captured a machine gun, a howitzer, and 22 Germans. He became the only Virginian awarded the Medal of Honor during WWI. Gregory died in Tuscaloosa, Ala., on 6 Jan. 1972.
Marker is at the intersection of East 2nd Street (Virginia Route 92) and Boyd Street, on the right when traveling east on East 2nd Street.
Courtesy hmdb.org
