William Glenwood Hurdle

William Glenwood Hurdle’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.

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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 William G. Hurdle (ASN: 2465187), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Machine-Gun Company, 370th Infantry Regiment, 93d Division, A.E.F., near Ferme la Folie, France, 30 September 1918. While under heavy enemy fire Private Hurdle volunteered and accompanied by another soldier, rescued a wounded comrade from an exposed position. He also performed valuable service as liaison agent, and under very heavy fire succeeded in cases where others had failed.

Croix de Guerre with Bronze Star

Citation: French Croix de Guerre with Bronze Star, under Order No. 62, dated November 24, 1918.

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Life & Service

  • Birth: 25 June 1893, Sleepy Hole, VA, United States
  • Place of Residence:
  • Race/Ethnicity: African American
  • Death: 25 October 1974 Portsmouth, VA, United States
  • Branch: Army
  • Military Rank: Sergeant
  • Company: [MG]
  • Infantry Regiment: 370th
  • Division: 93rd
Personal Narrative
Early Life (Pre-War): Includes general parent information, sibling information, education) Toggle Accordion

William Glennwood Hurdle was born to William (1866-1944) and Martha Sawyer (1869-?) on June 25, 1893, a descendant of two of the oldest African American families in the county. William was the second eldest of four children, the brother to Marion (1890-?), Sarah (1895-?) and Alva (1898-?). William assisted his father on their family’s farm in Sleepy Hole, Nansemond County, Virginia.

Service: Includes a summary of transfers, rank change(s), training, enlistment, and discharge locations Toggle Accordion

William’s dates of enlistment and shipment to France are unknown. Private Hurdle received the Distinguished Service Cross and French Croix de Guerre with Bronze Star for his actions on September 30, 1918 near Ferme la Folie, France;

“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 William G. Hurdle (ASN: 2465187), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Machine-Gun Company, 370th Infantry Regiment, 93d Division, A.E.F., near Ferme la Folie, France, 30 September 1918. While under heavy enemy fire Private Hurdle volunteered and accompanied by another soldier, rescued a wounded comrade from an exposed position. He also performed valuable service as liaison agent, and under very heavy fire succeeded in cases where others had failed”. Awarded DSC by CG, AEF, December 6, 1918. Published in G.O. No. 46, W.D., 1919. French Croix de Guerre with Bronze Star, under Order No. 62, dated November 24, 1918.

A separate description of then-Sergeant Hurdle’s actions was published in the Times-Tribune of Scranton, Pennsylvania, April 29, 1919, “When the entire liaison outfit connecting William’s regiment with the front at Champagne had been killed or wounded, he volunteered, and out in the shell-swept battlefield he remained for five long hours guiding his regiment to the front”. Sergeant Hurdle and his company left Brest, France on February 2, 1919 on the U.S. Army Transport Ship La France, arriving in New York on February 9, 1919.

Sergeant Hurdle was soon thereafter Honorably Discharged.

Later Life (Post-War): Includes post-war education, occupation, marriage(s) and/or children, location and date of death Toggle Accordion

Willie married Elizabeth Virginia Taylor (1903-1993) on April 28, 1920 in Nansemond County, Virginia, with her, having 13 children; Katherine (1920-2006), Esper (1922-1987), Edna (1926-2015), Wilhelmina (1927-2012), Evaline (1928-2013), Eliza (1930-?), William (1933-2018), Russell (1936-2015), Curtis (1940-), Shirley (1942-2002), Vernon (1947-), and Carolyn (1948-). Willie continued to work as a laborer, carpenter, and as a watchman for the local railroad until his retirement.

Willie died of cardiac failure at Portsmouth General Hospital in Portsmouth, Suffolk County, Virginia on October 25, 1974; he is buried in Union Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery in Suffolk, Suffolk County, Virginia.