After more than 100 years, Sgt. Milo Lemert’s Medal of Honor is coming home.
“The Military Memorial Museum of Upper Cumberland is honored to announce Sgt. Milo Lemert’s United States Congressional Medal of Honor will be on display at the museum Sept. 26-27, 2025,” said Diane Alenitsch, director of marketing and public affairs for the Military Memorial Museum of the Upper Cumberland.
The dates coincide with the eve of the Sept. 29, 1918, anniversary the Army first sergeant from Crossville was killed in action in Bellicourt, France. That date was also his first wedding anniversary.
The museum will be open special hours for the public to view the Medal of Honor: 1-6 p.m. Sept. 26, and 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Sept. 27.
The country’s highest military honor was presented posthumously a year after Lemert, 28, sacrificed his life in World War I action. According to the Tennessee State Museum, Lemert singlehandedly destroyed three enemy machine gun nests.
He and another sergeant were attacking a fourth when he was killed upon reaching the parapet of the emplacement.
“On Oct. 19, 1919, Sgt. Lemert’s Medal of Honor was presented to his widow Nellie Snodgrass Lemert on the Crossville Courthouse steps by Col. Dearmon, Chief of Staff commanding the Southeastern Department, United States Army,” Alenitsch said.
“The Medal of Honor was awarded for Sgt. Lemert’s heroic bravery.”
The citation accompanying Lemert’s Medal reads:
Seeing that the left flank of his company was held up, he located the enemy machine-gun emplacement, which had been causing heavy casualties. In the face of heavy fire, he rushed it singlehandedly, killing the entire crew with grenades. Continuing along the enemy trench in advance of the company, he reached another emplacement, which he also charged, silencing the gun with grenades. A third machine-gun emplacement opened up on him from the left and with similar skill and bravery he destroyed this also. Later, in company with another sergeant, he attacked a fourth machine-gun nest, being killed as he reached the parapet of the emplacement. His courageous action in destroying in turn four enemy machine-gun nests prevented many casualties among his company and very materially aided in achieving the objective.
“Mrs. Lemert graciously donated Milo’s Medal of Honor to the Tennessee State Museum,” Alenitsch said. “The State Museum has worked with the Military Memorial Museum to bring the Medal of Honor back to Crossville for two days in remembrance of Sgt. Lemert’s sacrifice for his country on Sept. 29, 1918,” she added.
The 10th of 11 children, Lemert was born March 25, 1890, in Albion, IA. He moved to Crossville with his family in 1911 or 1912 and took up farming. The son of a Union veteran, Lemert joined the Tennessee National Guard with his brother, Nathan, in 1917. The brothers were sent to Greenville, SC, for training.
There, he married Crossville native Nellie Snodgrass, who was teaching in Greenville, on Sept. 29, 1917.
Lemert was assigned to the American Expeditionary Force, 30th Infantry Division, United States Army.
He is buried at Crossville City Cemetery.
“The Military Memorial Museum of Upper Cumberland wish to express their gratitude to One Bank of Tennessee for sponsoring the return of the Medal of Honor,” Alenitsch said.
More about Lemert’s heroic actions can be discovered by visiting the Military Memorial Museum of Upper Cumberland at 20 S. Main St., Crossville.
Go to www.MilitaryMemorialMuseum-tn.org for updated information.