Sterling Lewis Morelock – Private, United States Army

Born at Silver Run, Maryland, on June 5, 1890, Sterling Lewis Morelock earned the Medal of Honor while serving with Company M, 28th Infantry, 1st Infantry Division, near Exermont, France, on October 1, 1918 during World War I.

He died on September 1, 1964 and was buried in Section 35 of Arlington National Cemetery. His wife, Bettye L. Morelock (August 10, 1893-May 30, 1974) is buried with him.

MORELOCK, STERLING

Rank and organization: Private, U.S. Army, Company M, 28th Infantry, 1st Division. Place and date: Near Exermont, France, 4 October 1918. Entered service at: Oquawka, Illinois. Birth: Silver Run, Maryland. G.O. No.: 43, W.D., 1922.

Citation:

While his company was being held up by heavy enemy fire, Private 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 one to five 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, Private 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.

• MORELOCK, STERLING LEWIS
• PVT CO M 28TH INF 1 DIV USA
• DATE OF BIRTH: 06/05/1890
• DATE OF DEATH: 09/01/1964
• BURIED AT: SECTION 35  SITE 1824
• ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY

• MORELOCK, BETTY L
• DATE OF BIRTH: 08/10/1893
• DATE OF DEATH: 05/30/1974
• BURIED AT: SECTION 35  SITE 1824
• ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY
• WIFE OF MORELOCK, STERLING LEWIS
• PVT  US ARMY

Michael Robert Patterson

Michael Robert Patterson was born in Arlington and is the son of a former officer of the US Army. So it was no wonder that sooner or later his interests drew him to American history and especially to American military history. Many of his articles can be found on renowned portals like the New York Times, Washingtonpost or Wikipedia.

Reviewed by: Michael Howard