Edward Allworth

Edward Christopher Allworth (July 6, 1895 – June 24, 1966) was an American officer in the United States Army during World War I.

Biography

Allworth was born in Battle Ground, Washington, Allworth graduated from Oregon State University in 1916. He enlisted at Corvallis, Oregon in 1917 and joined the 60th Infantry Regiment of the 5th Division. On November 5, 1918, mere days from the armistice, Allworth and his company crossed the Meuse River via a canal bridge near the French village of Clery-le-Petit. When shellfire destroyed the bridge and separated the company into two halves, Allworth swam across with some of his men while under fire from the enemy. Leading a subsequent charge towards the enemy lines, he forced them back one kilometre, taking 100 prisoners and thus capturing the bridgehead.

For this action, Allworth received the Medal of Honor in 1919. In 1925, Allworth rejoined the Oregon State University faculty as secretary of the Alumni Association, secretary of the Memorial Union Board of Governors, and manager of the Memorial Union. He published a set of memoirs titled Edward C. Allworth Papers, 1954-1963 before he retired in 1963. He died in Portland, Oregon on June 24, 1966.

Medal of Honor citation Medal of Honor Presentation Ceremony - February 9, 1919, at Chaumont, France. General John J. Pershing presided. Rank and organization: Captain, U.S. Army, 60th Infantry, 5th Division. Place and date: At Clery-le-Petit, France, November 5, 1918. Entered service at: Corvallis, Oregon Born: July 6, 1895, Crawford, Washington General Orders: War Department, General Orders No. 16 ( January 22, 1919).

Citation:

Military awards and decorations Original decorations of WWI Medal of Honor recipient Major Edward C. Allworth in the collection of the United States Army Heritage and Education Center, Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania. First row: Medal of Honor; Purple Heart; World War I Victory Medal with St. Mihiel, Meuse-Argonne and Defensive Sector battle clasps; Army of Occupation of Germany Medal. Second row: French Ordre national de la Légion d'honneur in the degree of Knight; French Croix de guerre 1914-1918 with two bronze palms; Italian Croce al Merito di Guerra and Levi Washington State Diamond Commemorative Medal. Allworth's military decorations and awards include:

In addition, state veterans home in Lebanon, Oregon, the Edward C. Allworth Veterans' Home, is named after him.