Joseph Bernard Adkison

What does extraordinary courage look like when fifty yards of open ground separate a trapped platoon from certain death? On 29 September 1918, during the First World War, Sergeant Joseph Bernard Adkison of the United States Army answered that question by charging directly into German machine-gun fire. His fearless actions near Bellicourt, France, would earn him the Medal of Honor, America's highest military decoration for valor, and secure his place among the heroes of the Western Front.

Born on 4 January 1892 in Egypt, Tennessee, Joseph B. Adkison grew up in the Atoka area and enlisted in the Tennessee National Guard in 1917. Serving with Company C, 119th Infantry Regiment, 30th Infantry Division, famously known as the Old Hickory Division, he deployed to Europe during the final year of World War I. His division participated in the Ypres-Lys and Somme offensives, confronting the formidable German defensive positions that had resisted Allied attacks for years.

On 29 September 1918, during the Battle of St. Quentin Canal, Adkison's platoon encountered devastating machine-gun fire near Bellicourt. With his fellow soldiers pinned down and unable to advance, the situation appeared hopeless. Yet Adkison refused to surrender the initiative. Acting entirely alone, he rushed across fifty yards of exposed ground under direct enemy fire, reached the German position, kicked the machine gun from its parapet into the trench, and captured all three enemy soldiers at bayonet point.

His extraordinary assault broke the deadly stalemate and allowed his platoon to resume its advance. The official Medal of Honor citation praised his "gallantry and quick decision," recognizing the exceptional courage that transformed a desperate battlefield situation into a successful advance. His decoration was authorized under War Department General Orders No. 59, dated 3 May 1919.

But Adkison's heroism came at a terrible personal cost. Shortly after his celebrated action, he was severely wounded by German artillery fire. The injuries ended his military service and left him struggling with lasting physical complications. He subsequently received the Purple Heart in recognition of wounds sustained in combat. His World War I Victory Medal recognized his wartime service in the American Expeditionary Forces, including the major operations of the 30th Division on the Western Front.

In March 1919, Adkison was invited to Washington to receive the Medal of Honor from President Woodrow Wilson. Still recovering from his wounds, he was unable to make the journey. Instead, on 5 October 1919, Major Landers presented the nation's highest military honor to him at Atoka Presbyterian Church in Tennessee, surrounded by family and friends. Adkison became the first Tennessean to receive the Medal of Honor for actions during World War I.

Despite his national recognition, Adkison remained a modest and private man. Known affectionately as Bernard to his family, he rarely sought attention for his wartime achievements. His injuries continued to affect his health for decades, reminding him of the tremendous sacrifice behind his extraordinary act of bravery.

Joseph Bernard Adkison died on 23 May 1965 in Memphis, Tennessee, at the age of 73. He was laid to rest in Salem Presbyterian Church Cemetery near Atoka, where his memory continues to be honored. His Medal of Honor is preserved at the Tipton County Museum, and Adkison Park stands as a tribute to his remarkable service.

His legacy is more than the story of a soldier who captured an enemy machine-gun crew. It is the story of a man who placed the lives of his comrades above his own, overcame overwhelming danger through decisive action, and carried the physical consequences of his courage for the rest of his life. More than a century after the Battle of St. Quentin Canal, Sergeant Joseph B. Adkison remains an enduring symbol of American valor, sacrifice, and selfless service.