Albert Edward Baesel

He braved machine-gun fire to carry a wounded man to safety.

Albert Edward Baesel grew up in Berea, Ohio, and entered military service through the Ohio National Guard. He joined the 5th Infantry in 1912 and rose from private to corporal before becoming an Army officer. During World War I, he served as a second lieutenant in Company B, 148th Infantry, 37th Division, with the American Expeditionary Forces in France.

On September 27, 1918, near Ivoiry, his unit was fighting in the Meuse-Argonne offensive. A corporal leading one of his platoon's squads had been badly wounded while trying to capture a German machine-gun position about 200 yards ahead of the assault line. Baesel asked three times for permission to rescue him. His commander eventually agreed, despite the artillery, rifle and machine-gun fire and gas surrounding the company.

Accompanied by a volunteer, Baesel went forward through the fire and reached the wounded soldier. He lifted the corporal onto his shoulders and was immediately killed by enemy fire. His Medal of Honor recognized an attempt to bring a comrade to safety, rather than the machine-gun assault described in some later accounts.

Baesel received the Medal of Honor posthumously under War Department General Orders No. 43 of 1922. It was presented to his widow, Lydia, on December 23 that year. His remains were returned from France and reburied in Woodvale Cemetery, Middleburg Heights, Ohio, on April 11, 1926. An American Legion post in Berea had been named in his honor in 1919.

Medal of Honor citation

“Upon hearing that a squad leader of his platoon had been severely wounded while attempting to capture an enemy machinegun nest about 200 yards in advance of the assault line and somewhat to the right, 2d Lt. Baesel requested permission to go to the rescue of the wounded corporal. After thrice repeating his request and permission having been reluctantly given, due to the heavy artillery, rifle, and machinegun fire, and heavy deluge of gas in which the company was at the time, accompanied by a volunteer, he worked his way forward, and reaching the wounded man, placed him upon his shoulders and was instantly killed by enemy fire.”