World War I Double Medal of Honor Recipient. He received the awards posthumously on May 10, 1919 for his actions as a corporal in the 6th Marine Regiment, US Marine Corps, on October 3, 1918. Following the US entry into World War I in April 1917, he joined the Marine Corps and was sent to the Western Front in France and at the Battle of Blanc Mont Ridge near Reims, Champaign, Province, France on October 3, 1918 the courage and valor that he displayed earned him a double Medal of Honor. The following day, which was his birthday, he was killed by a German shell at the age of 22 In addition to the Medals of Honor, he also received the Silver Star (with two oak leaf clusters) the Purple Heart (with one oak leaf cluster), the World War I Victory Medal (with silver service star), the French Medaille Militaire, the French Croix de Guerre (with palm), and the Italian War Merit Cross. His Army Medal of Honor citation reads: "Pruitt single-handedly attacked two machineguns, capturing them and killing two of the enemy. He then captured 40 prisoners in a dugout nearby. This gallant Marine was killed soon afterward by shellfire while he was sniping at the enemy" and his Navy Medal of Honor citation reads: "For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty in action with the enemy at Blanc Mont Ridge, France, October 3, 1918. Corporal Pruitt single-handed attacked two machine-guns, capturing them and killing two of the enemy. He then captured 40 prisoners in a dugout nearby. This gallant soldier was killed soon afterward by shell-fire while he was sniping the enemy." He is one of five Marines to earn a double Medal of Honor during World War I and one of 19 military personnel in US history to receive a double Medal of Honor.