Moses A. Luce

Voluntarily returned in the face of the advancing enemy to the assistance of a wounded and helpless comrade, and carried him, at imminent peril, to a place of safety.

On May 10, 1864, as General Grant's Army continued its march towards Richmond, Virginia, the Federal soldiers were met by a heavy fire from an advancing force of Confederate soldiers. Charging forward, five of the seven men under Sergeant Moses Luce were struck down as they pushed towards the enemy's works, and the devastating fire caused the advancing Union column to fall back. Sergeant Luce quickly found shelter in a ditch, then bravely raced to rejoin his lines, an enemy ball striking the stock of his weapon and another cutting the skin over his eye. From that position he could hear the cry of a wounded man, and on inquiring who it was, was told it was Sergeant La Fleur, a comrade. Dropping his musket, he raced to help his stricken friend. "When I reached him," he later said, he was lying prostrate on the ground, with his leg broken below the knee and was bleeding profusely. I tried to lift him in my arms, but finding that impossible, I kneeled down and told him to get his arms around my neck and get on my back (while) I remained on my hands and knees. Then rising, and in a stooping position, I carried him rapidly to the rear of our line." Turning his comrade over to others for treatment, Sergeant Luce then rejoined the fight.
(from HomeOfHeroes of unknown provenance)