This Day in History: Nearly Forgotten WWI Hero
On this day in 1918, a badly wounded American soldier charges an enemy machine-gun nest with an empty pistol. Somehow, he captures 30 enemy soldiers and four machine guns.
His name was Patrick J. Regan, and he received a Medal of Honor—yet today, he’s almost entirely forgotten.
Would you believe that a memorial field in Massachusetts even got mixed up about which war hero it was trying to honor several years ago?! Two Medal recipients share the name “Patrick Regan,” you see. The other Patrick Regan served in the Navy, as opposed to this Patrick Regan, who served in the Army.
Our hero enlisted in the Army as early as 1899. He served in the Philippines, China, and along the Mexican border before eventually going on to serve in World War I. His heroism came during the Meuse–Argonne offensive, which helped bring the Great War to an end.
On October 8, 1918, Regan found himself near Bois-de-Consenvoye, France, leading his platoon in an effort to take out an enemy machine-gun nest. That enemy nest needed to be taken out: It was holding up the advance of two American companies.
Regan divided his men into three groups. One would take the right flank; the other would take the left. In the meantime, Regan himself would lead an automatic rifle team at the front.
It didn’t go so well. The enemy took out much of Regan’s team almost immediately. Two were killed. Regan and a third man were badly wounded. Yet Regan knew what he had to do—and he did it. Major Thomas G. McNicholas later described these moments in his recommendation for Regan’s Medal of Honor:
“Lieutenant Regan, armed with an automatic pistol that was not loaded and with no cartridges in the magazine, shouted the command to ‘charge the nest!’ as though his platoon were behind him, whereas in fact he was alone,” he explained.
Charging a machine gun nest with an empty pistol? Alone? Bold. Audacious.
Amazingly, the badly wounded Regan captured 30 Austrian gunners and four machine guns with that empty pistol. His action allowed the American companies that had been stalled to advance.
He obtained medical treatment only after he was ordered to do so.
Regan received the Medal of Honor for his actions during the spring of 1919. He received another honor in 1921, serving as a pallbearer for America’s Unknown Soldier of World War I when that soldier was interred in the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Nevertheless, local papers would later report that his health was never the same. He passed away in 1943, leaving behind a wife and three children.
Another of America’s little-known heroes, fighting and sacrificing that we might remain free.
A note for those who are interested: Some of you might know I am running an experiment in history reels. If you are so inclined, check out my YouTube channel and/or subscribe to those HERE. Don’t miss the reel I created about the Father of Flag Day, posted over the weekend.
Primary Sources:
30 Prisoners and Guns Taken by Lieut. Regan (Los Angeles Evening Express; Feb. 7, 1919) (p. 7)
Kevin Canessa, Belleville Historical Society Takes Part in Wreaths Across America (Observer; Jan. 13, 2021) (p.3)
Los Angelan Wins War Honor Medal: Lieutenant Patrick Regan Captured Austrians with Empty Pistol (Fresno Morning Republican; Apr. 9, 1919) (p. 13)
Lt. P.J. Regan Dies in Jersey (Evening Sun; Nov. 5, 1943) (p. 42)
Medal of Honor citation (Patrick J. Regan; WWI)
Medal of Honor is Given for Bravery: Citation for Patrick Regan, Los Angeles Lieutenant (Los Angeles Evening Post-Record; Dec. 2, 1933) (Section 2, p. 1)
Obituaries: Patrick J. Regan (Hartford Daily Courant; Nov. 1, 1943) (p. 4)
Patrick J. Regan WW1 Medal of Honor (American Legion website; May 27, 2002)
WOW!!! Nothing but respect!