1918Alexander Gordon Lyle, an officer in the Navy from Gloucester, received the Congressional Medal of Honor for his actions on the French front.People and Communities, Government and Public Service, Military, Notable People

On April 23, 1918, during fighting in the Verdun sector, the Marines came under heavy shelling. An explosion seriously wounded a Marine, Captain Thomas Regan, and amidst the attack, Lieutenant Commander Lyle put his own life at risk to rush to his aid. Administering first aid despite the continuing bombardment, he saved the young Marine’s life. For his heroism in this action, Lieutenant Commander Lyle was awarded the Medal of Honor by the Navy and a Silver Star by the Army. Before the war’s end, he received an Oak Cluster in lieu of a second Silver Star for heroism from the Army, to which the 5th Regiment was attached.