Fred W. Stockham

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Fred William Stockham
March 16, 1881(1881-03-16) – June 22, 1918 (aged 37)
GYSGT Fred W. Stockham
Place of birth Detroit, Michigan
Place of death DOW in France
Allegiance United States of America
Service/branch United States Marine Corps
Years of service 1903–07, 1912–16, 1916–18
Rank Gunnery Sergeant
Battles/wars World War I
*Third Battle of the Aisne
*Battle of Belleau Wood
Awards Medal of Honor
Croix de Guerre

Fred William Stockham (b. 16 March 1881, Detroit – d. 22 June 1918, France) was a United States Marine who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his self-sacrificial valor during the Battle of Belleau Wood in World War I.

Contents

[edit] Biography

Stockham was born in Detroit, Michigan on 16 March 1881. He enlisted in the Marine Corps on 16 July 1903 and, over the next four years, served twice in the Philippines, from 26 September 1903 to 28 August 1905 and from 29 September 1906 to 13 January 1907, and did one tour of duty in China in the intervening period. Private Stockham was honorably discharged at New York City on 15 July 1907. Four years later, on 31 May 1912, he reenlisted in the Marine Corps.

By the time he was again discharged, on 30 May 1916, he had risen to the rank of sergeant and had served most of his term ashore in Nicaragua. Sgt. Stockham saw combat during the engagement at León, Nicaragua, on 6 October 1915, a little over a month before his departure from that troubled Latin American nation. He was honorably discharged again on 30 May 1916, this time at Mare Island, Calif. However, within a week, he had returned to New York City, where on 7 June, he reenlisted.

By 8 February 1918, Sgt. Stockham was in France and heading for the trenches. Between that time and his death, he served in the Toulon sector, in the Aisne operation, and at Belleau Wood. During the last-named battle, Gunnery Sergeant Stockham displayed the "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty" which later earned him the Medal of Honor by an Act of Congress.

Gy. Sgt. Stockham died in France on 22 June 1918. Thanks to the efforts of his former comrades, one of whom undoubtedly was the man whose life his gas mask saved, Gy. Sgt. Stockham was belatedly and posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor by an Act of Congress on 21 December 1939, over 20 years after his sacrifice.

[edit] Medal of Honor citation

Rank and organization: Gunnery Sergeant, U.S. Marine Corps, 96th Company, 2d Battalion, 6th Regiment. Place and date: In Bois-de-Belleau, France, 13-14 June 1918. Entered service at: New York, N.Y. Birth: Detroit, Mich. G.O. NO.:--.

Citation:

During an intense enemy bombardment with high explosive and gas shells which wounded or killed many members of the company, G/Sgt. 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.

[edit] Namesakes

In 1943, the destroyer USS Stockham (DD-683) was named for Gy. Sgt. Fred W. Stockham, USMC. In 2001, the container & roll-on/roll-off ship USNS Soderman (T-AKR-299) was renamed USNS GYSGT Fred W. Stockham (T-AK-3017). As of 2008, she is still in service.[1]

[edit] See also

United States Marine Corps Portal

[edit] References

This article incorporates text in the public domain from the United States Marine Corps.
  1. ^ Priolo, Gary P. (16 November 2007). T-AKR-299 Soderman / T-AK-3017 GYSGT Fred W. Stockham. Service Ship Photo Archive. NavSource Online. Retrieved on 2008-06-06.