Frank Gaffney (Medal of Honor)

Gaffney was born December 18, 1883, in Buffalo, New York. He died May 25, 1948, and is buried in United German and French Cemetery Buffalo, New York.

General John J. Pershing said Gaffney's deeds placed him among the top heroes of the war. Similarly, Maj. Gen. John F. O'Ryan, commanding officer of the 27th Division, paid Gaffney high honors. "No man has performed more daring exploits or exercised a bigger influence upon those around him by the gallantry of his conduct."^[1] O'Ryan also reportedly called PFC Gaffney "the human hurricane."^[2] Gaffney also received the Purple Heart, the British Distinguished Conduct Medal, the French Médaille militaire and Croix de Guerre, the Italian Croce di guerra al merito, the Montenegrin Medal for Military Bravery and the Portuguese Medalha da Cruz de Guerra, Third Class.^[3] Gaffney, who was known as "the second bravest man in the U. S. Army," later lost his left arm in fighting at St. Souplet on October 15, 1918.^[4]

Rank and organization: Private First Class, U.S. Army, Company G, 108th Infantry, 27th Division. Place and date: At Ronssoy, France; September 29, 1918. Entered service at: Buffalo, New York. Birth: December 16, 1883; Buffalo, New York. General Orders: War Department, General Orders No. 20 (January 30, 1919).

Citation:

Private First Class Gaffney, an automatic rifleman pushing forward alone with his gun, after all the other members of his squad had been killed, discovered several Germans placing a heavy machinegun in position. He killed the crew, captured the gun, bombed several dugouts and, after killing four more of the enemy with his pistol, held the position until reinforcements came up when 80 prisoners were captured.^[5]

Gaffney's military decorations and awards include:^[6][7]

• List of Medal of Honor recipients

• Strasburg, John (2022). He Charged Alone: World War I Medal of Honor Recipient Private First Class Frank Gaffney. Lulu.com. ISBN 978-1387855926.