John Henry Pruitt was born on 4 October 1896 in Fayetteville, Arkansas. He enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps from Arizona in May 1917, less than a month after the United States entered World War I. Later promoted to corporal, he served with Seventy-eighth Company, Sixth Marine Regiment, a part of the U.S. Second Division. Pruitt fought in France at Chateau-Thierry, Bouresches and Belleau Wood and was injured in a German gas attack on 14 June 1918. Following recovery, he participated in more battles, and his brave conduct in an action near Thiaucourt on 15 September was officially reported. On 3 October, while in combat at Blanc Mont Ridge, France, Corporal Pruitt conducted a single-handled attack, capturing two machine guns and 40 enemy soldiers before being killed in action later in the day. For his "extraordinary gallantry and intrepidity" on 3 October 1918, John H. Pruitt was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor by both the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Army (plus three Silver Star Citations). He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia. U.S. Navy Medal of Honor citation of Corporal John H. Pruitt, USMC (as printed in the official publication "Medal of Honor, 1861-1949, The Navy", page 123): "For extraordinary gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty while serving with the Seventy-eighth Company, Sixth Regiment, Second Division, in action with the enemy at Blanc Mont Ridge, France, 3 October 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 near by. This gallant soldier was killed soon afterward by shellfire while he was sniping the enemy."
Photo from the USMC History Division