James Heriot

Biography and images courtesy of Teresa Slack

James Heriot, a 26-year-old farmer and assistant mail carrier from Springhill, South Carolina, registered for the draft in June 1917.

After training at Camp Sevier in Greenville, South Carolina for only seven months, James boarded a ship in March 1918, heading to France.

After arriving in France, he underwent more training under the English Army, all the time while heading toward the front. Finally, in early August 1918, James Heroit's Infantry joined the 100-Day Offensive meant to push the Germans back towards the Western Front and the impregnable Hindenburg line.

The allies broke the Hindenburg line on September 29, but the war was not over. On October 12, 1918, James engaged in a heated battle. Corporal James Heroit and four other soldiers organized a combat group. Attacking an enemy machine-gun nest, leaving two men dead. Due to heavy fire from all sides, the other two sought shelter. Cpl. James Heroit, with a fixed bayonet, alone charged the machine gun through machine gun fire for thirty yards, forcing the enemy to surrender. He received several wounds. Undaunted, he continued to charge another nest, where he eventually met his death.

On February 22, 1919, in Sumter, South Carolina. Major General Henry G. Sharpe presented his mother with the World War 1 Medal of Honor for her son's bravery.

Soft and safe, my brother, be they resting place. Bright and glorious be thy rising from it.

Lest we forget…