Today our walk was dedicated in honor of:
Army 1st Sgt. Milo Lemert, Age 28, of Crossville, TN.
KIA Sept. 29, 1918
Congressional Medal of Honor recipient 1st Sgt. Milo Lemert of Company G, 119th Infantry, 30th Division.
Lemert was born in Marshalltown, Iowa on March 25, 1890 and died September 29, 1918 near Bellicourt, France. He was a member of the First Christian Church in Crossville. His funeral service was conducted at the church before his burial in Crossville City Cemetery.
He earned the accolade on 29 Sep 1918.
His citation read as follows…
Seeing that the left flank of his company was held up, he located the enemy machinegun emplacement, which had been causing heavy casualties. In the face of heavy fire he rushed it single-handed, killing the entire crew with grenades. Continuing along the enemy trench in advance of the company, he reached another emplacement, which he also charged, silencing the gun with grenades. A third machinegun emplacement opened up on him from the left and with similar skill and bravery he destroyed this also. Later, in company with another sergeant, he attacked a fourth machinegun nest, being killed as he reached the parapet of the emplacement. His courageous action in destroying in turn 4 enemy machinegun nests prevented many casualties among his company and very materially aided in achieving the objective.
Milo married Nellie Vaughn Snodgrass on 29 Sept 1917 and died in France on his first Anniversary.
It was a great honor to walk 9.55 miles with Army 1st Sgt. Milo Lemert today. Even though it was a very wet day we had a great walk. We walked to the Veterans Memorial Park and read his name on the Memorial Wall. We then walked to the building just south of the Veterans Memorial Park and read the dedication plaque. The building was dedicated in his name in 1991
We then headed to the Crossville City Cemetery where we got to meet several veterans. After honors and new flag was put up in his honor we then headed towards the Community Complex where we had a free lunch and got to meet a lot of people. Several military groups and non profit groups and the local sheriffs department had tables set up with information. It was an amazing event. We then headed back towards the house. It was still raining but honor does not know weather. It was a great honor to walk with this hero today and I want to thank everyone who honked, waved and saluted today in helping me honor him. We had 288 honks. It was amazing. Thank you.
