Born in Baltimore, Maryland and entering the US Army at Princeton, New Jersey Wardlaw Miles was a Captain near Revillon, France.
On September 14th 1918 Capt. Miles volunteered to lead his company in a hazardous attack on a commanding trench position near the Aisne Canal, which other troops had previously attempted to take without success.
His company immediately met with the intense machine gun fire, against which it had no artillery assistance, but Capt. Miles preceded the first wave and assisted in cutting a passage through the enemy’s wire entanglements.
In doing so he was wounded 5 times by machine gun bullets, both legs and 1 arm being fractured, whereupon he ordered himself placed on a stretcher and had himself carried forward to the enemy trench in order that he might encourage and direct his company, which by this time had suffered numerous causalities.
Under the inspiration of the officers indomitable spirit his men held the hostile position and consolidated the front line after an action lasting 2 hours, at the conclusion of which Capt. Miles carried to the aid station against his will.