George Dilboy, Private First Class, U.S. Army, Company H, 103rd Infantry Regiment, 26th Division is thought to be the first Greek-American to receive the Medal of Honor during World War I.

 Honoring George Dilboy

Good Afternoon, When my dad shared with Dilboys life story over 50 years ago, I have been fascinated with heroism ever since. I compiled highlights of his short life to honor his memory and share with you all the importance of Dilboys actions during WWI. Hopefully you will take-away something new about our local Somerville war heroes short life.

George Dilboy was born on Feb. 5, 1896 in Alatsata, a flourishing village in Asia Minor where many Greek families in Somerville emigrated from including mine. His family of 8 siblings felt Turkish persecution so they began their journey to the United States. With his brother and a group of 22 Alatsataians, 13-year-old Dilboy emigrated to the United States arriving at Ellis Island in 1910. He lived on Poplar and Linwood Streets in the “Brickbottom” section of East Somerville. At the age of 16 he returned to his native land and fought for Greece in the Balkan Wars of 1912-13 to fight the Turks.

As a result, Dilboy evolved into a sharpshooter.

George and one of his brothers returned to Somerville to join their father. They found work at the local Swifts meatpacking plant and other industries in the area. George went to school, learned English, and got a job in the laundry room at Massachusetts General Hospital. He also worked as a busboy at the Georgian Café and belhop at the Copley Square Hotel, however the summer heat forced the newly built hotel to close. Originally only men came to this country from Greece to work and send money back to Greece, however, when the Turks invaded Greece the women and children followed suit to escape persecution from the Ottoman Empire. Greeks immigrated to the United States in 1916 in record numbers. In addition, more Greek churches were established in the United States in 1916 than at any other time in history. The Dilboy family and many families from Alatsata including mine were amongst the first parishioners of our beloved Dormition of the Virgin Mary Greek Orthodox Church in Somerville also established in 1916.

In 1917 when war against Germany was declared, Dilboy joined the US army in Ballou Wood France. German maching guns punished Dilboys platoon. His lieutenant started to go to the front to see how this nest could be flanked. Dilboy with an automatic rifle jumped up and said, “Lieutenant, I can wipe out these men”

The lieutanant answered,
“Go Ahead”

Dilboy threw himself flat and wriggled through a wheat field, killing several machine gunners with hand grenades and automatic fire. A German sniper shot him twice, but he kept going, lobbing grenades at the German machine gun nest one after the other. When he reached the machine gun nest he found two remaining Germans. He then stood up in full view and received a burst from the machine guns, which cut off his right leg. While bleeding out with several bullet holes in his body, Dilboy fell on his back and pushed himself forward with his left foot. He turned his head, aimed, and killed the two remaining men. Dilboy single-handedly knocked out a pillbox that contained a machine gun crew to successfully beat back the German Army. Lying on his back, with his right hand uppermost, the lad motioned to his platoon to go forward. Dilboys superhuman heroic actions cleared the way for his platoon to break through. Dilboy died on the battlefield with a smile on his face on July 18, 1918.

By the time Dilboy died at the age of 22, he fought in four wars in three continents. He gave everything for two countries, the land of his birth and the land of his choice.

Dilboy was the first Greek American to be awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor, America’s highest decoration for valor by the President of the United States. When Dilboy’s father was presented his Medal of Honor in 1919 he remarked:

“In other circumstances, I would have shed tears because of my son’s death but when I learned of how he died, I was proud that he had given his life with honor to the cause of his adopted country, the United States of America.”

At the request of his father, Dilboy was buried in his native village of Alatsata. After a funeral procession through the streets of Alatsata, said to have been witnessed by 17,000 mourners, his American flag-draped casket was placed in the Greek Orthodox Church of the Presentation to lie in state. The Church fell into disrepair during the three-year Greco-Turkish War of 1919-1922. In 1922 when the Turkish Army occupied Alatsata, Turkish soldiers desecrated Dilboy’s coffin entombed in the Church, scattered his bones and stole the American Flag from his coffin. President Harding was outraged that our hero would be treated in such a manner and the incident was elevated to an international issue. Harding ordered a United States warship to recover the remains and brought them back to the United States. Dilboy was interred at Arlington Cemetery with full military honors in a ceremony attended by scores of dignitaries.
President Harding also demanded and received a formal apology from the Turkish Government.
Dilboy has been honored by three US presidents; Woodrow Wilson who signed the authorization awarding the Medal of Honor, Warren Harding who brought him back, and Calvin Coolidge who presided at his final burial.

General John Pershing listed George Dilboy as one of the 10 greatest heroes of World War I.
We must never forget the sacrifices of our veterans and their families especially those who gave their lives for the freedom we all enjoy.

Harry Agritha 2/27/26

“On Air with Billy Tauro” Please Like and Follow Us On Facebook for more cool and exciting news updates and events! https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100057320933117 #Billy #Politicalcorruption #onairwithBillyTauro #Ballstospeakup #Nofilter #WilliamTauro #BillyTauro #iexposeassholes #Politics #Rightwing #Forthepeople #iwillexposeyou #Somerville