Sgt. James F. Carty, DSC VFW Post 1545

This week delivered another shocking moment for our nation—an attempted attack on the President during the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. Events like this should stop us in our tracks. 

They remind us not just of the dangers our leaders face, but of the deeper divisions running through our country. We are better than this.

At our core, we are a nation built on resilience, cooperation, and shared purpose. Yet too often, we let anger and name-calling take the place of meaningful dialogue. That path only widens the gap between us. It doesn’t have to be this way.

Now is the time to come together; not as opposing sides, but as Americans. To listen more, to respect one another, and to focus on what truly matters: strengthening our communities and improving the lives of the people who call this country home. 

Because despite the noise and the division, this is still a great nation. And it’s up to all of us to make sure it lives up to that promise.

In the coming weeks I hope to highlight some of our members who I consider heroes. Now as our post approaches its 100th year serving the town of Windham, we take pride in remembering the man for whom we are named—our most highly decorated member, Sgt. James F. Carty.

Sgt. James F. Carty, DSC VFW Post 1545 was named in his honor, and he was one of its original charter members. His story deserves to be remembered.

The heroes of World War I were once widely celebrated, but many have since faded from memory. James Francis Carty was born on August 31, 1895, in Rockville Centre on Long Island. 

After graduating high school, he attended Cornell University, where he met his future wife. However, college life did not suit him, and he left after a year. He then spent some time at sea in the merchant marine before settling into civilian life, managing a five-and-dime store in Wallingford, Connecticut.

When the United States entered the war in 1917, Carty answered the call. He enlisted in the Army on April 25, 1917, and was assigned to Company K of the 102nd Infantry Regiment, part of the Yankee Division.

On September 7, 1917, his unit departed from Hoboken, New Jersey, bound for France. After months of training, they entered the front lines on February 6, 1918. During fighting along the Chemin des Dames, Carty endured a devastating 24-hour gas attack that left him delirious for days.

Carty’s courage under fire became legendary during the Saint-Mihiel Offensive. On September 12, alongside Pvt. Harold Proctor of Massachusetts, he took bold action that would define his legacy. 

Disregarding orders, the two men attacked and captured 40 German soldiers and seized five machine guns that had been halting the advance of their regiment. Their actions allowed American forces to move forward and continue the offensive.

Not long after, Carty displayed even greater daring. Spotting another enemy machine gun position, he devised a plan. He instructed Proctor to stay back with his rifle while he charged forward alone.

Leaping into the middle of the German position, Carty shouted “Hande Hoch!”—“Hands up!”—while pointing his pistol at the stunned soldiers. The enemy froze. He shouted again, louder, and they surrendered. 

Carty disarmed them, lined them up single file, and marched all 40 prisoners—one officer, six non-commissioned officers, and 33 privates—back to American lines.

For his extraordinary bravery, Carty received several honors, including the Distinguished Service Cross, the nation’s second-highest award for valor.

After the war, Carty suffered lingering effects from mustard gas exposure. Seeking recovery, he moved from Brooklyn to the Catskill Mountains and purchased a farm in Jewett.

His life was cut tragically short when he died of acute appendicitis on Thanksgiving Day in 1929. He was just 34 years old and was laid to rest with full military honors in Ashland.

Newspapers once called him the “Lone Yankee Fox,” a tribute to his cunning and courage. Today, his story lives on through our post and our traditions. We proudly preserve accounts of his heroism, including “Hande Hoch! Hands Up,” and we honor him each year during our Memorial Day ceremony at his gravesite in Ashland Cemetery.

As we mark our centennial, we remember Sgt. James F. Carty—and all who have served our nation, past and present, around the world. God Bless America.

Marc Farmilette, PDC – VFW Post 1545.

Sgt. James F. Carty, DSC