Herkimer County Military Award Recipients

NOTE: This may not be a complete list.

  MEDAL OF HONOR  

Civil War

DELAVAN BATES

birth: March 17, 1840, Schoharie County, New York
death: December 19, 1918, buried at Aurora, Nebraska
Entered Service at: Mohawk, New York
Rank: Colonel, Army
Unit: 30th Colored Troops
Date of Action: July 30, 1864
Date of Issue: June 22, 1891
Citations: The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Colonel Delavan Bates, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism on 30 July 1864, while serving with 30th Colored Troops, in action at Petersburg (Cemetery Hill), Virginia. For gallantry in action where he fell, shot through the face, at the head of his regiment.

GEORGE KRETSINGER

Birth: Fairfield, Herkimer County, N.Y.
Entered Service at: Chicago, Ill.
Rank: Private
Unit: Chicago Mercantile Battery, Illinois Light Artillery.
Place and Date: At Vicksburg, Miss., 22 May 1863.
Date of Issue: 20 July 1897.
Citation: Carried with others by hand a cannon up to and fired it through an embrasure of the enemy's works.

Indian Campaigns

FRANK WEST

birth: September 26, 1850, Mohawk, New York
death: August 26, 1923, buried at Arlington, Virginia
Entered Service at: Mohawk, New York
Date of Action: July 17, 1882
Rank: First Lieutenant, Army
Unit: 6th U.S. Cavalry
Notes: Frank West graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, Class of 1872. He retired as a U.S. Army Colonel.
Citation: The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to First Lieutenant Frank West, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism on 17 July 1882, while serving with 6th U.S. Cavalry, in action at Big Dry Wash, Arizona Territory. First Lieutenant West rallied his command and led it in the advance against the enemy's fortified position.

World War II

WALTER J. WILL (KIA)

Birth: Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh
death: March 30, 1945, buried at Margraten, Holland
Entered Service at: West Winfield New York
Rank: First Lieutenant, Army
Unit: Company K, 18th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division
Date of Action: March 30, 1945
Citation: The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pride in presenting the Medal of Honor (Posthumously) to First Lieutenant (Infantry) Walter J. Will, United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry during an attack on powerful enemy positions on 30 March 1945, while serving with Company K, 18th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division, in action at Eisern, Germany. First Lieutenant Will courageously exposed himself to withering hostile fire to rescue two wounded men and then, although painfully wounded himself, made a third trip to carry another soldier to safety from an open area. Ignoring the profuse bleeding of his wound, he gallantly led men of his platoon forward until they were pinned down by murderous flanking fire from two enemy machineguns. He fearlessly crawled alone to within 30 feet of the first enemy position, killed the crew of four and silenced the gun with accurate grenade fire. He continued to crawl through intense enemy fire to within 20 feet of the second position where he leaped to his feet, made a lone, ferocious charge and captured the gun and its nine-man crew. Observing another platoon pinned down by two more German machineguns, he led a squad on a flanking approach and, rising to his knees in the face of direct fire, coolly and deliberately lobbed three grenades at the Germans, silencing one gun and killing its crew. With tenacious aggressiveness, he ran toward the other gun and knocked it out with grenade fire. He then returned to his platoon and led it in a fierce, inspired charge, forcing the enemy to fall back in confusion. First Lieutenant Will was mortally wounded in this last action, but his heroic leadership, indomitable courage, and unflinching devotion to duty live on as a perpetual inspiration to all those who witnessed his deeds.

He was previously awarded the Silver Star during World War II:

First Lieutenant (Infantry) Walter J. Will (ASN: 1998414), United States Army, was awarded the Silver Star for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in connection with military operations against the enemy while serving with the 1st Infantry Division in the North Africa Campaign in 1942.

  DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS  

Pre World War I (Peace Time Awards)

STANLEY R. OLSEN

Birth: Frankfort, New York
Entered Service at: Schenectady New York
Rank: Private First Class, Army
Unit: Troop H, 6th Cavalry Regiment
Date of Action: May 17, 1916
Notes: D.S.C. issued in lieu of the Certificate of Merit and the D.S.M. under the provisions of the act of Congress (March 5, 1931)
Citation: The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross, in lieu of a previously issued Certificate of Merit and Distinguished Service Medal, to Private First Class Stanley R. Olsen, United States Army, for distinguished conduct while serving as a member of Troop H, 6th Cavalry Regiment, in saving from death by drowning, Private Emil A. Saboslay, Troop B, 6th Cavalry, at Espia, Chihuahua, Mexico, 17 May 1916.

World War I

JOHN J. CROWLEY (KIA)

Birth: Little Falls, New York
death: September 29, 1918
Entered Service at: Mohawk, New York
Rank: Sergeant, Army
Unit: Company M, 197th Infantry Regiment, 27th Division, American Expeditionary Forces
Date of Action: September 29, 1918
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 Sergeant John J. Crowley (ASN: 1212204), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company M, 197th Infantry Regiment, 27th Division, A.E.F., near Ronssoy, France, 29 September 1918. When the advance of his platoon was checked by perilously heavy machine-gun fire, from the direct front, Sergeant Crowley, after ordering his men to cover, advanced alone and bombed the gun out of action. After successfully leading his platoon to one of the furthermost points of the advance, he was killed.

JAMES HOSP

Entered Service at: Ilion, NY
Rank: Private, U.S. Army
Unit: Company H, 53d Infantry Regiment, 6th Division, A.E.F.
Date of Action: October 4, 1918
Citation:
The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to James Hosp, Private, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near Landersbach, Alsace, October 4, 1918. Private Hosp was a member of a party of 50 attacked by an enemy raiding party consisting of about 300 storm troops. During the raid and before the barrage lifted he crossed over open ground to his poet and manned it alone throughout the engagement. During the latter part of the fight he was the sole protection for a group of soldiers near him who had been flanked by the enemy.

CHARLES H. ROBINTON

Birth: Lawrence, Massachusetts
Entered Service at: Ilion, New York
Rank: Private First Class, Army
Unit: Company A, 105th Infantry Regiment, 27th Division, American Expeditionary Forces
Date of Action: Sep 29, 1918
Citation: The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Private First Class Charles H. Robinton (ASN: 1203329), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company A, 105th Infantry Regiment, 27th Division, A.E.F., near Ronssoy, France, 29 September 1918. During operations against the Hindenburg line, Private Robinton went forth, in the face of unusually heavy machine-gun fire, to aid a wounded comrade. He administered first aid, and, while shielding the man from the enemy fire, he received a severe wound in the back. Despite this wound, he struggled back to safety, bringing his comrade with him.

World War II

KENNETH BLEAU (KIA)

Entered Service at: Herkimer County, New York
Rank: Second Lieutenant, U.S. Army
Unit: Company G, 2d Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division
Date of Action: June 6, 1944
Other awards: Bronze Star, 2@ Purple Hearts
Citation: The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Kenneth Bleau (0-1294967), Second Lieutenant, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with Company G, 2d Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division, in action against enemy forces on 6 June 1944, in the vicinity of France. Second Lieutenant Bleau's intrepid actions, personal bravery and zealous devotion to duty at the cost of his life, exemplify the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflect great credit upon himself, the 1st Infantry Division, and the United States Army.

WEBSTER JAMES OUGH

Entered Service at: Little Falls, New York
Rank: Private, U.S. Army
Unit: 8th Engineers
Date of Action: March 16, 1944
Citation: The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Webster James Ough, Private, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with the 8th Engineers, in action against enemy forces on 16 March 1944. Private Ough's intrepid actions, personal bravery and zealous devotion to duty exemplify the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.

  NAVY CROSS  

World War II

HELMUTH ERNEST HOERNER

birth: December 4, 1914, Wisconsin, West Bend
Entered Service at: Ilion, New York
Rank: Ensign, Navy
Unit: Scouting Squadron 8 (VS-8), U.S.S. Hornet (CV-8)
Date of Action: June 6, 1942 Citation: The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Ensign Helmuth Ernest Hoerner, United States Naval Reserve, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Scouting Plane of Scouting Squadron FIVE (VS-5), attached to the U.S.S. YORKTOWN (CV-5), during the "Air Battle of Midway," against enemy Japanese forces on 6 June 1942. With utter disregard for his own personal safety and in the face of intense anti-aircraft fire, Ensign Hoerner participated in determined and effective bombing and strafing attacks on fleeing enemy Japanese forces, obtaining a successful hit on one of the enemy ships. His airmanship, courage and unwavering devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

CEDRIC J. SCHEIDLEMAN

Birth: Ilion, New York
death: January 21, 2004
Entered Service at: Boonville, New York
Rank: First Lieutenant, Marine Corps
Unit: Company C, 1st Battalion, 27th Marines, 5th Marine Division
Date of Action: February 19, 1945
Other awards: SPOT AWARD, Fleet Marine Force Pacific
Citation: The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to First Lieutenant Cedric J. Scheidleman (MCSN: 0-27836), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for extraordinary heroism as a Platoon Leader of Company C, First Battalion, Twenty-Seventh Marines, FIFTH Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands, 19 February 1945. When he landed on the fire-swept beach with his troops in the early phases of the operation, the assault wave in that sector had penetrated the beach as far as the first line of defense where it was pinned down by intense hostile machine-gun and 47-mm. gunfire from a large pillbox. Despite the great personal danger of exposing himself to the rain of enemy fire, First Lieutenant Scheidleman courageously proceeded alone forward of the front lines toward the emplacement to a position from which he could neutralize the hostile weapon with fragmentation and phosphorous grenades. Although wounded while working his way forward, he gallantly advanced to the open embrasure and drove out the enemy with grenade and carbine fire, sustaining additional wounds in the course of this action. When two Japanese charged him with drawn bayonets, he coolly killed both before they could reach him. By his aggressive fighting spirit and coolness in the face of great danger, First Lieutenant Scheidleman contributed greatly to the continuation of the attack in that sector and his conduct throughout was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

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