Herman D. Gentry

Herman D. Gentry was born on March 20th, 1896, in Gurley, Alabama to John Morgan Gentry and Cynthia Anna Echols Gentry. 

Mr. Gentry enlisted in Company C, 4th Alabama Infantry, Alabama National Guard on 26 July 1917 as a Private.  His unit was mustered into service for World War I at Camp Albert L. Mills, New York, and was designated as Company C, 167th Infantry, as part of the 42d “Rainbow” Division, American Expeditionary Force.  Mr. Gentry was promoted to Private First Class on 1 October 1917, and he and Company C shipped out for overseas service shortly after.  They arrived overseas on 3 November 1917 and began to fight their way across France immediately.  He was promoted again to Corporal on 10 March 1918, and continued to fight with his unit in Europe.  Mr. Gentry was wounded as his unit took heavy shell fire near Pexonne, France on 5 March 1918.  He succumbed to his wounds on 11 March 1918, and was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross.  His remains were returned to his family in Huntsville, where he was interred at Maple Hill Cemetery. 

Herman D. Gentry was the first Soldier from Madison County, Alabama to die in World War I.

Below is the Citation for the award of the Distinguished Service Cross to Herman D. Gentry: 

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to private Herman D. Gentry (ASN: 96166), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company C, 167th infantry Regiment, 42d Division, A.E.F., near Pexonne, France, 5 March 1918.  Private Gentry showed courageous devotion to duty by remaining at his post under heavy shell fire.  He died 11 March 1918, of wounds that were received in action while fighting gallantly.