Henry Gilbert Costin

This article is about the decorated US soldier. For the British explorer, see Henry Costin (explorer).

Henry Gilbert Costin
File:United States Army solider Henry Gilbert Costin.png Henry Gilbert Costin
Born	(1898-06-15)June 15, 1898 Baltimore, Maryland, US
Died	October 8, 1918(1918-10-08) (aged 20) France
Place of burial	Loudon Park National Cemetery Baltimore, Maryland
Allegiance	United States of America
Branch	United States Army
Service years	1917 - 1918
Rank	Private
Service number	1285528
Unit	Company H, 115th Infantry Regiment, 29th Division.
Conflicts	World War I
Awards	Medal of Honor

Henry Gilbert Costin (June 15, 1898 – October 8, 1918) was a private in the United States Army who received the Medal of Honor for his actions in World War I near Bois–de–Consenvoye, France during the Meuse–Argonne offensive.

Biography

Private Costin was born June 15, 1898 in Baltimore, Maryland, and graduated from the Baltimore City College high school in 1914. After enlisting in the Army in 1917, Costin fought in France in World War I. On October 8, 1918, near Bois–de–Consenvoye, Costin was killed while performing an act of extreme heroism, for which he was awarded the Medal of Honor, the United States' highest military commendation. His body lies buried in Loudon Park National Cemetery (section B, grave 460) in Baltimore, Maryland.

Medal of Honor citation

File:Arlington National Cemetery 001.jpg

Memorial in Baltimore, MD honoring Medal of Honor recipients Charles Hammann and Henry Gilbert Costin, both of Maryland

Rank and organization: Private, U.S. Army, Company H, 115th Infantry, 29th Division. Place and date: Near Bois–de–Consenvoye, France, 8 October 1918. Entered service at: Baltimore, Md. Birth: Baltimore, Md. G.O. No.: 34, W.D., 1919.

Citation:

When the advance of his platoon had been held up by machinegun fire and a request was made for an automatic rifle team to charge the nest, Pvt. Costin was the first to volunteer. Advancing with his team, under terrific fire of enemy artillery, machineguns, and trench mortars, he continued after all his comrades had become casualties and he himself had been seriously wounded. He operated his rifle until he collapsed. His act resulted in the capture of about 100 prisoners and several machineguns. He succumbed from the effects of his wounds shortly after the accomplishment of his heroic deed.

Namesake

The Liberty Ship SS Henry Gilbert Costin (Maritime Commission Hull Number 0950, U.S. Merchant Marine Association), built at the Bethlehem-Fairfield Shipyard, in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1943, was named for Private Costin and used for cargo transport during World War II. Also named in honor of PVT Costin is the PVT Henry Costin National Guard Armory at 8601 Odell Road in Laurel, Maryland well as the PVT Henry Costin Dining Facility on Omaha Beach Circle at the Camp Fretterd Military Reservation in Reisterstown, Maryland (Maryland Army National Guard).

See also

• List of Medal of Honor recipients
• List of Medal of Honor recipients for World War I