Fred William Stockham

Saved a wounded Marine by giving him his gas mask in battle.

Fred William Stockham was born in Detroit, Michigan, on 16 March 1881. Before his military career he worked as a fireman. He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps at Buffalo, New York, on 16 July 1903. His first overseas service took him to the Philippines, where he was stationed at Olongapo from October 1903 to August 1905. He then served with the Marine detachment at the American Legation in Peking, China, before returning to the Philippines in September 1906.

Stockham returned to the United States in February 1907 and served at Mare Island, California. Discharged that July, he resumed civilian employment as a fireman in Newark, New Jersey. He reenlisted there on 31 May 1912. After duty at Philadelphia, he went to Nicaragua in September with a Marine battalion deployed during the country's political disturbances. His subsequent service included Mare Island and recruiting duties.

In September 1917, Stockham joined the 96th Company, 2d Battalion, 6th Marines, and went on to serve in France as a gunnery sergeant. His unit formed part of the Marine brigade in the Army's 2d Division. He fought in the Verdun sector, the Aisne defensive and the Chateau-Thierry sector. His leadership during the attack of 6 June 1918 earned a divisional gallantry citation.

During the night of 13-14 June at Belleau Wood, German artillery subjected the company to high-explosive and mustard-gas bombardment. Stockham repeatedly carried wounded men to a dressing station. When he found a wounded comrade whose gas mask had been destroyed, he gave the man his own, knowingly exposing himself to the gas. He continued helping evacuate the wounded until he collapsed. After evacuation, he died from his injuries on 22 June 1918, aged 37. His service ended with those fatal wounds; he had no later career.

Recognition of his sacrifice was delayed for more than twenty years. His former company commander, Clifton B. Cates, supported a renewed recommendation, and Congress enabled consideration of the case despite the statutory time limit. Stockham received the Medal of Honor posthumously in 1939. He is buried at Hollywood Cemetery in Union, New Jersey.

Medal of Honor citation Rank and organization: Gunnery Sergeant, U.S. Marine Corps, 96th Company, 2d Battalion, 6th Regiment. Place and date: Bois-de-Belleau, France, 13-14 June 1918.

During an intense enemy bombardment with high explosive and gas shells which wounded or killed many members of the company, G/Sergeant Stockham, upon noticing that the gas mask of a wounded comrade was shot away, without hesitation, removed his own gas mask and insisted upon giving it to the wounded man, well knowing that the effects of the gas would be fatal to himself. He continued with undaunted courage and valor to direct and assist in the evacuation of the wounded, until he himself collapsed from the effects of gas, dying as a result thereof a few days later. His courageous conduct undoubtedly saved the lives of many of his wounded comrades and his conspicuous gallantry and spirit of self-sacrifice were a source of great inspiration to all who served with him.