Navy Federal Credit Union

Both Sergeant Hatler and Private Barkeley earned Medals of Honor for this action they performed together (despite the discrepancy in the official date of action reported in their citations.)

Awards Received

  • Medal of Honor

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    Sergeant

    Regiment:

    356th Infantry Regiment

    Division:

    89th Division, American Expeditionary Forces

    Action Date:

    November 8, 1918

    War Department, General Orders No. 74 (June 7, 1919)

    The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Sergeant M. Waldo Hatler (ASN: 2199881), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism on 8 November 1918, while serving with Company B, 356th Infantry, 89th Division, in action at Pouilly, France. When volunteers were called for to secure information as to the enemy’s position on the opposite bank of the Meuse River, Sergeant Hatler was the first to offer his services for this dangerous mission. Swimming across the river, he succeeded in reaching the German lines, after another soldier, who had started with him, had been seized with cramps and drowned in midstream. Alone he carefully and courageously reconnoitered the enemy’s positions, which were held in force, and again successfully swam the river, bringing back information of great value.