Alexander Gordon Lyle (November 12, 1889 – July 15, 1955) was an officer in the
United States Navy who received the
Medal of Honor for his actions during
World War I. He is one of only three dental officers to have received the medal, the others being
Weedon Osborne and
Ben L. Salomon
Benjamin Lewis Salomon ( July 7, 1944) was a United States Army dentist during World War II, assigned as a front-line surgeon. During the Battle of Saipan, when the Japanese started overrunning his hospital, he stood a rear-guard action in which h ...
.
Biography
Lyle was born in
Gloucester, Massachusetts
Gloucester () is a city in Essex County, Massachusetts, in the United States. It sits on Cape Ann and is a part of Massachusetts's North Shore. The population was 29,729 at the 2020 U.S. Census. An important center of the fishing industry and a ...
, on November 12, 1889.
After graduating high school he went to Baltimore College, graduating in 1912 with a degree in dentistry. He accepted a commission in the navy as a
lieutenant (junior grade) in 1915 while living in
Massachusetts and retired August 1, 1948, at the rank of
vice admiral.
Lyle was serving as a dental officer with the 5th Regiment of the
United States Marine Corps on the French front during World War I. On April 23, 1918, he risked his life to rescue a corporal who had been seriously wounded during heavy shellfire. He saved the corporal's life by treating his wounds using surgical aid and became one of only three dental officers in history to receive the Medal of Honor. At the time of the award the navy still had two different versions of the Medal of Honor, one for combat operations and one for noncombat operations. For his actions saving the corporal's life, Lyle received the combat version of the Medal, known as
the Tiffany Cross
The Tiffany Cross Medal of Honor arose immediately after World War I, as the US Navy decided to recognize via the Medal of Honor two manners of heroism, one in combat and one in the line of a sailor's profession. The original upside-down star w ...
.
[
He died July 15, 1955, in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, and is buried with his wife Ruth Haire Lyle (1894–1963) at Arlington National Cemetery, in Arlington, Virginia.]Legion of Merit
The Legion of Merit (LOM) is a military award of the United States Armed Forces that is given for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements. The decoration is issued to members of the eight ...
, the Silver Star
The Silver Star Medal (SSM) is the United States Armed Forces' third-highest military decoration for valor in combat. The Silver Star Medal is awarded primarily to members of the United States Armed Forces for gallantry in action against an e ...
(with palms) and the Italian War Cross.
Medal of Honor citation
Rank and organization: Lieutenant Commander (Dental Corps), U.S. Navy. Born: November 12, 1889, Gloucester, Mass. Appointed from: Massachusetts. Other Navy award: Legion of Merit.
Citation:
For extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty while serving with the 5th Regiment, U.S. Marine Corps. Under heavy shellfire, on April 23, 1918, on the French Front, Lt. Comdr. Lyle rushed to the assistance of Cpl. Thomas Regan, who was seriously wounded, and administered such effective surgical aid while bombardment was still continuing, as to save the life of Cpl. Regan.
See also
* List of Medal of Honor recipients
The Medal of Honor was created during the American Civil War and is the highest military decoration presented by the United States government to a member of its armed forces. The recipient must have distinguished themselves at the risk of their ...
* List of Medal of Honor recipients for World War I
References
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External links
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Lyle, Alexander G.
1889 births
1955 deaths
People from Gloucester, Massachusetts
United States Navy Medal of Honor recipients
United States Navy vice admirals
World War I recipients of the Medal of Honor
United States Navy personnel of World War I
United States Navy World War II admirals
Burials at Arlington National Cemetery
Recipients of the Silver Star
Recipients of the Legion of Merit
Naval surgeons
American dentists
20th-century dentists
Military personnel from Massachusetts