Clayton K. Slack
Encyclopedia
Clayton Kirk Slack was a soldier in the United States Army
who received the Medal of Honor
for his actions during the World War I
.
on February 23, 1896.
Clayton Slack joined the United States Army and as a Private
during World War I
he was cited for single-handedly clearing out a German machine gun nest resulting in 10 prisoners and the capture of 2 machine-guns on October 8, 1918, in the Meuse-Argonne offensive
, the biggest battle of World War I involving American troops.
Slack noticed several German troops and charged at them with his rifle and bayonet telling them to "put their hands up". The German soldiers thinking that he was at the lead of a patrol, surrendered. Slacks actions were credited with saving his unit heavy casualties.
After the war Slack toured the United States
with war films and by the time of his death had met six presidents. In 1963 president John F Kennedy hosted a reunion of Medal of Honor recipients at the White House
for the 100th anniversary of the first presentation of the Medal. Slack attended the function along with a number of other Medal of Honor recipients.
He died March 1, 1976 and is buried in Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington, Virginia. His grave can be found in section 34, lot 59.
Citation:
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
who received the Medal of Honor
Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
for his actions during the World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
.
Biography
Slack was born in Plover, WisconsinPlover, Wisconsin
Plover is a village in Portage County, Wisconsin, United States and is a suburb of Stevens Point. It is included in the Stevens Point Micropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 10,520 at the 2000 census.-History:...
on February 23, 1896.
Clayton Slack joined the United States Army and as a Private
Private (rank)
A Private is a soldier of the lowest military rank .In modern military parlance, 'Private' is shortened to 'Pte' in the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth countries and to 'Pvt.' in the United States.Notably both Sir Fitzroy MacLean and Enoch Powell are examples of, rare, rapid career...
during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
he was cited for single-handedly clearing out a German machine gun nest resulting in 10 prisoners and the capture of 2 machine-guns on October 8, 1918, in the Meuse-Argonne offensive
Meuse-Argonne Offensive
The Meuse-Argonne Offensive, or Maas-Argonne Offensive, also called the Battle of the Argonne Forest, was a part of the final Allied offensive of World War I that stretched along the entire western front.-Overview:...
, the biggest battle of World War I involving American troops.
Slack noticed several German troops and charged at them with his rifle and bayonet telling them to "put their hands up". The German soldiers thinking that he was at the lead of a patrol, surrendered. Slacks actions were credited with saving his unit heavy casualties.
After the war Slack toured the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
with war films and by the time of his death had met six presidents. In 1963 president John F Kennedy hosted a reunion of Medal of Honor recipients at the White House
White House
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
for the 100th anniversary of the first presentation of the Medal. Slack attended the function along with a number of other Medal of Honor recipients.
He died March 1, 1976 and is buried in Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington County, Virginia, is a military cemetery in the United States of America, established during the American Civil War on the grounds of Arlington House, formerly the estate of the family of Confederate general Robert E. Lee's wife Mary Anna Lee, a great...
Arlington, Virginia. His grave can be found in section 34, lot 59.
Medal of Honor citation
Rank and organization: Private, U.S. Army, Company D, 124th Machine Gun Battalion, 33d Division. Place and date: Near Consenvoye, France, 8 October 1918. Entered service at: Madison, Wis. Born: 23 February 1896, Plover, Wis. G.O. No.: 16, W.D., 1919.Citation:
Observing German soldiers under cover 50 yards away on the left flank, Pvt. Slack, upon his own initiative, rushed them with his rifle and, single-handed, captured 10 prisoners and 2 heavy-type machineguns, thus saving his company and neighboring organizations from heavy casualties.
See also
- List of Medal of Honor recipients
- List of Medal of Honor recipients for World War I