Calvin John Ward

Private, U.S. Army

Medal of Honor Recipient

World War I

Private Calvin John Ward (30 October 1899 - 15 December 1967), was a U.S. Army National Guard soldier who received the U.S. military's highest award for valor, the Medal of Honor, for his heroic actions during World War I.

Calvin John Ward was born on 30 October 1899 in Greene County, TN, and lived in Morristown, TN. Karnes entered active duty with the U.S. Army's 117th Regiment from the Tennessee National Guard during World War I. On 8 October 1918 during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive, Ward's company was stopped near Estrées, France, by a German machine gun position. Ward and Sergeant James Ernest Karnes, deciding they had "had all they could take" of this situation, fixed bayonets, charged and captured the position. This freed their company to advance against German lines in the last major offensive of the war. Both men received the Medal of Honor for extraordinary heroism in this action.

Medal of Honor

Rank and organization: Private, U.S. Army, Company D, 117th Infantry, 30th Division.

Place and date: Near Estrees, France, 8 October 1918.

Citation: During an advance, Pvt. Ward's company was held up by a machinegun, which was enfilading the line. Accompanied by a noncommissioned officer, he advanced against this post and succeeded in reducing the nest by killing 3 and capturing 7 of the enemy and their guns.

Medals and Awards

Medal of Honor
Silver Star Medal

Death and Burial

Private Calvin Ward died on 15 December 1967. He is buried at Glenwood Cemetery in Sullivan, TN.