Earl Pursley
Earl Pursley’s Personal Narrative was derived from information found in public records, military personnel files, and local/state historical association materials. Please note that the Robb Centre never fully closes the book on our servicemembers; as new information becomes available, narratives will be updated to appropriately represent the life story of each veteran.
*Pursley was attached to the 360th Infantry Regiment, 90th Division, AEF.
Military Honor(s):
Distinguished Service Cross
Citation: The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Private First Class Earl Pursley (ASN: 2170837), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Medical Detachment, 360th Infantry Regiment (Attached), 90th Division, A.E.F., near Lesseux, France, 4 September 1918. Private Pursley voluntarily carried a wounded soldier from an exposed position under intense enemy shell fire for a distance of 400 yards to the dressing station. He then immediately returned to the position and helped to dig out men who had been buried by the explosion of a shell.
Silver Star Medal
Citation: By direction of the President, under the provisions of the act of Congress approved July 9, 1918 (Bul. No. 43, W.D., 1918), Private First Class Earl Pursley (ASN: 2170837), United States Army, is cited by the Commanding General, American Expeditionary Forces, for gallantry in action and a silver star may be placed upon the ribbon of the Victory Medals awarded him. Private First Class Pursley distinguished himself by gallantry in action while serving with the Medical Detachment, 360th Infantry Regiment, 90th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, in action near Lasseau, France, 4 September 1918, in searching for and carrying the wounded to the dressing station under heavy shell fire.
Croix de Guerre with Silver Star
Life & Service
- Birth: 25 December 1896, Hickman, KY, United States
- Place of Residence:
- Race/Ethnicity: African American
- Death: 31 August 1985 Three Rivers, MI, United States
- Branch: Army
- Military Rank: Private First Class
- Company: [Medical Detachment]
- Infantry Regiment: 366th
- Division: 92nd
Earl Pursley was born to Willis Pursley (1854-1928) and Katherine Gile Bennett (1864-?) on 25 December 1896 in Hickman, Kentucky, the fourth of five children; Bertha (1886-?), Willie (1888-?), Harman (1892-1963), and Ornett (1898-1948). Willis Pursley was a laborer, settling his family in Hickman at 156 Cedar St.
In the 1910s, Pursley lived in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where he worked as a chauffeur with Maxwell Motor Sales Corp., 909 Hennepin. At some point, he married Nance/Nannie Brown (1894-?).
Pursley enlisted on 30 October 1917, and was assigned to a Medical Department Detachment, 366th Infantry Regiment, 92nd Division, AEF. Private First Class Pursley left Hoboken, New Jersey aboard the U.S. Army Transport Ship Vauban on 14 June 1918. Pursley received the Distinguished Service Cross and Silver Star Medal (attached to 360th Infantry Regiment, 90th Division, AEF) for his actions near Lesseaux, France on 4 September 1918;
“The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Private First Class Earl Pursley (ASN: 2170837), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Medical Detachment, 360th Infantry Regiment (Attached), 90th Division, A.E.F., near Lesseux, France, 4 September 1918. Private Pursley voluntarily carried a wounded soldier from an exposed position under intense enemy shell fire for a distance of 400 yards to the dressing station. He then immediately returned to the position and helped to dig out men who had been buried by the explosion of a shell.”
“By direction of the President, under the provisions of the act of Congress approved July 9, 1918 (Bul. No. 43, W.D., 1918), Private First Class Earl Pursley (ASN: 2170837), United States Army, is cited by the Commanding General, American Expeditionary Forces, for gallantry in action and a silver star may be placed upon the ribbon of the Victory Medals awarded him. Private First Class Pursley distinguished himself by gallantry in action while serving with the Medical Detachment, 360th Infantry Regiment, 90th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, in action near Lasseau, France, 4 September 1918, in searching for and carrying the wounded to the dressing station under heavy shell fire.”
Pursley also received the Croix de Guerre with Silver Star, unknown citation.
Pvt 1C Pursley left Brest, France aboard the U.S. Army Transport Ship Aquitania on 22 February 1919; he was Honorably Discharged on 26 March.
Upon his return home, Pursley and his wife settled in his hometown of Hickman, where they had four of their five children; Clauzell (1919-1981), Earl, Jr. (1921-1980), Willis Edward (1923-2011) and Mary Katherine (1925-1926). Pursley worked as a laborer in a box factory. By 1928, the family moved to Three Rivers, St. Joseph County, Michigan (323 Jefferson St.) where Pursley worked as a laborer in an iron foundry, and the couple had their last child, Trenzie Theogorie (1928-1928). Pursley was widowed in the 1930s; on 29 October 1940, he married Consolia Hunt (1899-1943) in Cassopolis, Michigan. After her death in 1943, Pursley married Fannie Lester (1894-1975), a divorcee, in Detroit on 8 January 1945; they lived at 309 Jefferson St., where he worked at Chevrolet Garage.
Little else is known of Pursley’s adult life- he died on 31 August 1985 in Three Rivers, and is buried at Riverside Cemetery, Three Rivers, Michigan, near his sons Earl, Jr. and Trenzie, and an unnamed infant daughter (1929-1929).