Sterling Lewis Morelock

Private, U.S. Army

Medal of Honor Recipient

World War I

Private Sterling L. Morelock (5 June 1890 - 1 September 1964) was a U.S. Army soldier who received the U.S. military's highest award for valor, the Medal of Honor, for his heroic actions during World War I.

Medal of Honor

Rank and organization: Private, U.S. Army, Company M, 28th Infantry, 1st Division.

Place and date: Near Exermont, France, 4 October 1918.

Citation: While his company was being held up by heavy enemy fire, Pvt. Morelock, with 3 other men who were acting as runners at company headquarters, voluntarily led them as a patrol in advance of his company's frontline through an intense rifle, artillery, and machinegun fire and penetrated a woods which formed the German frontline. Encountering a series of 5 hostile machinegun nests, containing from 1 to 5 machineguns 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 reinforcements, even though his entire party had become casualties. He rendered first aid to the injured and evacuated them by using stretcher bearers 10 German prisoners whom he had captured. Soon thereafter his company commander was wounded and while dressing his wound Pvt. Morelock was very severely wounded in the hip, which forced his evacuation. His heroic action and devotion to duty were an inspiration to the entire regiment.

Death and Burial

Private Sterling L. Morelock died on 1 September 1964. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, VA, in Section 35, Lot 1824.