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Letter dated 18 February 1919 sent by Lt. Victor F. Bleasdale to Cpl. Frank W. Dunham (15th Co. 6th Machine Gun Battalion).

 

The letter provides some information regarding Dunham's wound at Blanc Mont and the two men who saved him - Cpl. Emanuel Smolik and Bleasdale.

 

post-22711-1296160835.jpg

 

page 1

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Letter dated 18 February 1919 sent by Lt. Victor F. Bleasdale to Cpl. Frank W. Dunham (15th Co. 6th Machine Gun Battalion).

 

page 2 Bleasdale lets Dunham know that he has been awarded the Croix de Guerre for bravery at Chateau Thierry and gives a brief rundown on some of his company mates.

 

post-22711-1296160947.jpg

 

 

Others referred to in the letter:

 

Haley is Aubrey M. Haley (served with Bleasdale & Dunham in Haiti)

 

Curtis is Cpl. Harold E. Curtis (among the first Marines [5th Regiment] to arrive in France June 1917 together with Bleasdale & Dunham)

 

Bald is Cpl. Edward Bald, DSC, Navy Cross (served with Bleasdale & Dunham in Haiti)

 

Dahms is Cpl. Henry Dahms (among the first Marines [5th Regiment] to arrive in France June 1917 together with Bleasdale & Dunham)

 

McGurn is Gunnery Sgt. John McGurn (among the first Marines [5th Regiment] to arrive in France June 1917 together with Bleasdale & Dunham)

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Letter dated 18 February 1919 sent by Lt. Victor F. Bleasdale to Cpl. Frank W. Dunham (15th Co. 6th Machine Gun Battalion)

 

page 3

 

post-22711-1296162473.jpg

 

Others referred to in the letter:

 

MHK is Major Matthew H. Kingman, formerly a 1st Lt. with 5th Regiment Marines [1st to arrive in France June 1917] (together with Bleasdale & Dunham)

 

JFM is Capt. James F. Moriarty, formerly a 1st Lt. (he and Dunham fought at Belleau Wood)

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from the August 1918 USMC Muster Roll 6th Machine Gun Battalion

 

Frank W. Dunham's 2d Div. Orders #44 Citation "For showing coolness and leadership in conducting his guns through-out the day of June 6th 1918 under heavy artillery and machine gun fire" This near Chateau Thierry.

 

post-22711-1296163614.jpg

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USMC A5 Sniper Rifle

PaHiggins,

 

Great stuff. Amazing how well preserved it all is. You seem to have researched it all very well. Excellent work.

 

Jim Tarleton

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  • 2 weeks later...
Letter dated 18 February 1919 sent by Lt. Victor F. Bleasdale to Cpl. Frank W. Dunham (15th Co. 6th Machine Gun Battalion).

 

page 2 Bleasdale lets Dunham know that he has been awarded the Croix de Guerre for bravery at Chateau Thierry and gives a brief rundown on some of his company mates.

 

post-22711-1296160947.jpg

Others referred to in the letter:

 

Haley is Aubrey M. Haley (served with Bleasdale & Dunham in Haiti)

 

Curtis is Cpl. Harold E. Curtis (among the first Marines [5th Regiment] to arrive in France June 1917 together with Bleasdale & Dunham)

 

Bald is Cpl. Edward Bald, DSC, Navy Cross (served with Bleasdale & Dunham in Haiti)

 

Dahms is Cpl. Henry Dahms (among the first Marines [5th Regiment] to arrive in France June 1917 together with Bleasdale & Dunham)

 

McGurn is Gunnery Sgt. John McGurn (among the first Marines [5th Regiment] to arrive in France June 1917 together with Bleasdale & Dunham)

 

 

 

. . . and they all fought together at Belleau Wood (except Aubrey Haley)

 

post-22711-1297026044.jpg

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Photos sent by Lt. Victor F. Bleasdale to Cpl. Frank W. Dunham (15th Co. 6th Machine Gun Battalion)

USMC in Belleau Wood June 1918

 

"1st Sgt. Hunter carted to the grave Belleau Woods"

 

post-22711-1295537196.jpg

 

 

Reverse of photo

 

post-22711-1297212523.jpg

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Photos sent by Lt. Victor F. Bleasdale to Cpl. Frank W. Dunham (15th Co. 6th Machine Gun Battalion)

USMC in Belleau Wood June 1918

"The crack MG Sect of the world after 28 days in Belleau Woods"

 

post-22711-1295539605.jpg

 

reverse of photo

 

post-22711-1297214405.jpg

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  • 1 month later...

Photo sent with Letter dated 18 February 1919 by Lt. Victor F. Bleasdale to Cpl. Frank W. Dunham (15th Co. 6th Machine Gun Battalion).

 

reverse of photo reads "Helmets (German) on the ground near where you were wounded. #10"

The location is near Blanc Mont - Oct. 4, 1918.

 

post-22711-1300133471.jpg

 

 

post-22711-1300133520.jpg

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Frank W. Dunham's medical evacuation tag dated 10/5/1918 (the official date of Dunham's wound is listed as Oct. 4, 1918) when he was wounded near Blanc Mont.

 

Diagnosis: G.S.W. L Face

 

Signed by Geo. D. Witt, USN, Pharmacist's Mate 3rd Class. Witt was mortally wounded on Oct. 6, 1918 and died on Oct. 26, 1918. He was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross and Silver Star Citation for his actions in giving aid to wounded Marines.

 

post-22711-1300198035.jpg

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George D. Witt, USN, Pharmacist's Mate, 3rd Class - DSC Citation

 

 

George Douglas Witt - Pharmacist's Mate Third Class

Navy

Date of death: Killed in Action[sic] Wounded in Action - Died of wounds 10-26-1918 -

Place of Birth: Harrington, WA

Home of record: Harrington, WA

Status: KIA [sic] WIA - DOW

USMC, 6th Machine Gun Battalion, Company A, France (believed Crossing of the River Meuse, Meuse-Argonne Offensive)

 

For service as set forth in the following:

CITATION:

 

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Pharmacist's Mate Third Class George Douglas Witt, United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving as a Corpsman attached to the Sixth Machine-Gun Battalion, Sixth Regiment (Marines), 2d Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near St. Etienne-a-Arnes, France, 6 October 1918. Pharmacist's Mate Witt displayed remarkable bravery and coolness in giving medical aid to wounded marines while going forward with the assault waves during the attack north of Blanc Mont Ridge and near St. Etienne-Arnes, France, on 6 October 1918. Late in the afternoon on the same date, while giving first aid to a wounded marine in an advance machine-gun post, he was shot and seriously wounded by an enemy sniper.

 

post-22711-1300198701.jpg

 

http://militarytimes.com/citations-medals-...cipientid=16325

 

Newspaper accounts of George W. Witt's service:

 

George D Witt Dies of Wounds. Sad News Received Tuesday Oct. 26th. Buried in France. Details Lacking.

 

A telegram to George M Witt received Wednesday evening brought the sad news that George Douglas Witt, his son, had died in France as a result of wounds received in action. Some weeks ago Mr. Witt had received a letter from George stating that he was in a hospital having been wounded but was getting along well. A later brief note stated about the same thing. Nothing was heard for several weeks until the wire Wednesday stating that he had died Oct 26, and that he had been buried in France, where the body would remain until peace was declared.

 

The shock to the relatives and the entire community is great. George was well liked by all of us. He was born here and it seems that he belongs to all of us. He graduated from the local high school in 1915. In that class were four boys, and half of them have died for their country - the other being Wesley Miller. Little did that class realize in those happy days that the God of War should exact of it such a heavy toll.

 

Following his graduation here George went to the state college where he was in attendance at the time war broke out. He enlisted in the medical corps and for some time was stationed at Mare Island , in California. Desiring to participate more actively in this great conflict he entered a branch of the Marine Corps and attained the rank of pharmacist’s mate. He had not been in France many months until he was wounded so severely that it cost him his life. Like so many similar cases the details surrounding his injuries and death are but little known as yet. We know but the outstanding features of the tragedy; that he left us a short while ago in the vigor of youth, and that he has given his life in our defense. The highest tribute we can pay will not express the depth of obligation we owe to George and those like him who have died for us.

 

Deceased is survived by a father, a step-mother, a brother Clarence, 5 sisters, Mrs. Maida Witt Martin, Florence, Vivian, Edith and Helen and a step-brother, Robert Brown.” (Citizen: 12-06-1918)

 

G M Witt Gets DSM.

George M. Witt received this week from the navy department the distinguished service medal awarded posthumously to his son, George Douglass Witt, who lost his life in France as the result of wounds received in the Argonne fight. The letter accompanying the medal follows: ‘Navy department, August 29, 1919. Sir: It gives me great pleasure to forward to you a distinguished service cross, issued by the war department to your son, George Douglas Witt, No. 1,648,474, who so nobly gave his life October 26, 1918, while serving in France as pharmacist’s mate third class with the sixth machine gun battalion. Although the department does not believe that this award will in any way lessen your great sorrow, it feels that this token and the words of the following citation will be a great source of consolation to you in future years: ‘Extraordinary heroism in action near St Etienne-a-Arnes, France, October 6, 1918. Pharmacist’s Mate Witt displayed remarkable bravery and coolness in giving medical aid to wounded marines while going forward with the assault waves during the attack north of Blanc Mont Ridge and near St. Etienne-a-Arnes, France, on October 6, 1918. Later in the afternoon on the same date, while giving first aid to a wounded marine in an advance machine gun post, he was shot and seriously wounded by an enemy sniper.’ Very truly yours, W S Benson, acting secretary navy.’—Harrington Citizen.” (Davenport Times-Tribune: 9-25-1919)

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Frank W. Dunham and buddies 1914 (pre-enlistment in USMC on 10-24-1918)

 

post-22711-1300199509.jpg

 

I love this photo! Nice cigar! :thumbsup:

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Cpl. Frank W. Dunham recovering from his wound at Naval Hospital, Washinton D.C. ca. April 1919.

 

Dunham is on the left side of the photo - the wound to his left eye is visible.

 

post-22711-1300200932.jpg

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