J. Hunter Wickersham

He dressed his orderly and still led on despite four wounds.

John Hunter Wickersham was born in New York on 3 February 1890 and grew up in Denver, Colorado. During the First World War he trained for an infantry commission and became a second lieutenant in Company H, 353rd Infantry, 89th Division. His unit went to France for the American Expeditionary Forces' operations in 1918.

On the eve of the St Mihiel offensive, Wickersham wrote to his mother. He included a poem reflecting on the rain falling on a soldier's helmet and on the anxiety of the families waiting at home. The letter became a lasting personal record of the officer immediately before his final battle.

On 12 September 1918, near Limey, a high-explosive shell wounded him in four places as he advanced with his platoon. Before seeking help for himself, he dressed the injuries of his orderly, who had been hit at the same time. Though losing blood and unable to use his right arm, he continued leading the advance. He fired his revolver with his left hand until exhaustion overcame him. He died before medical aid could reach him.

His Medal of Honor was awarded posthumously in January 1919. Italy also awarded him its war cross. He was buried at St Mihiel American Cemetery, Thiaucourt, France. His family placed a memorial to him in its plot at Fairmount Cemetery in Denver, leaving two places of remembrance for the young officer.

Medal of Honor citation

Advancing with his platoon during the St. Mihiel offensive, he was severely wounded in four places by the bursting of a high-explosive shell. Before receiving any aid for himself, he dressed the wounds of his orderly, who was wounded at the same time. He then ordered and accompanied the further advance of his platoon, although weakened by the loss of blood. His right hand and arm being disabled by wounds, he continued to fire his revolver with his left hand until, exhausted by loss of blood, he fell and died from his wounds before aid could be administered.