John Hunter Wickersham (1890 - 1918)

2nd Lieut. Hunter Wickersham was Wounded in Action during World War I.

2nd Lieut. Hunter Wickersham was Killed in Action during World War I.

Hunter Wickersham was awarded the Medal of Honor.

2nd Lt Hunter Wickersham served in the United States Army in World War I
Service started: 1917
Unit(s): 353d Infantry, 89th Division
Service ended: 1918

John Hunter Wickersham was awarded the Medal of Honor by General Order of the War Department dated January 22, 1919. The citation states that 2nd Lieut. Wickersham was wounded in four places by the explosion of a shell during the Battle of St. Mihiel. Before accepting aid for his own injuries, he dressed the injuries of his orderly. He continued firing with his left hand as his right arm was disabled. When exhausted by loss of blood, he fell and died before medical aid could be given.

The other honor to Wickersham has grown through the years. It is a poem he sent home in his last letter to his Mother. I've found it in several websites, for which I thank God since I write poetry myself, so I hope reading Wickersham's poem in WikiTree allows more people to recognize the unbelievable heroism of our military heroes in every age and war:

THE RAINDROPS ON YOUR OLD TIN HAT

The mist hangs low and quiet on a ragged line of hills,

There’s a whispering of wind across the flat,

You’d be feeling kind of lonesome if it wasn’t for one thing—

The patter of the raindrops on your old tin hat.

An’ you can’t help a-figuring—sitting there alone—

About this war and hero stuff and that,

And you wonder if they haven’t sort of got things twisted up,

While the rain keeps up its patter on your old tin hat.

When you step off with the outfit to do your little bit

You’re simply doing what you’re s’posed to do—

And you don’t take time to figure what you gain or lose—

It’s the spirit of the game that brings you through.

But back at home she’s waiting, writing cheerful little notes,

And every night she offers up a prayer

And just keeps on a-hoping that her soldier boy is safe—

The Mother of the boy who’s over there.

And, fellows, she’s the hero of this great, big ugly war,

And her prayer is on the wind across the flat,

And don’t you reckon maybe it’s her tears, and not the rain,

That’s keeping up the patter on your old tin hat?

John Hunter Wickersham is buried in the St. Mihiel American Battle Monuments Commission Cemetery at Thiaucourt, France, Plot B, Row 19, Grave 12. (I'm thankful I found another source for those who want to honor him in Colorado. There is a marker at Fairmount Cemetery, Denver, CO. ^[1] It's a 'Waymark' in Medal of Honor Resting Places. There are 'Waymarks' on various categories you can find at www.waymarking.com.)

Sources

1. ↑ http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WMWV5G_John_Hunter_Wickersham_Denver_CO

• https://www.kansasww1.org/the-353rd-all-kansas-infantry-at-st-mihiel-wickersham/
• http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WMWV5G_John_Hunter_Wickersham_Denver_CO
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._Hunter_Wickersham
• https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QGR8-P3HJ

• https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/55811225/john-hunter-wickersham