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 [decorative delimiter] Class of 1916

Vol. VI
p1805
5477

(Born Ala.)

John Howard Wills​1

(Ap'd Ala.)

1

(Born June 21, 1895, Auburn, AL.)​a

Military History. — Cadet at the Military Academy, June 21, 1912, to June 13, 1916, when he was graduated and promoted in the Army to

Second Lieut., Corps of Engineers.

First Lieut., 1st Engineers, June 13, 1916.

Served: At Brownsville, Texas, with company, Sept. 13, 1916, to March 16, 1917; at Fort Ringgold, Texas, to April 2, 1917; at Brownsville, Texas, with company, April 3 and 4; at Washington Bks., D. C., with company, April 11 to

(Captain of Engineers, May 15, 1917)

Aug. 7, 1917; en route to France, Aug. 8 to 21, 1917; in France with regiment to

(Major, Temporary, of Engineers, April 1, 1918)

July 29, 1918.

Killed in Action, July 29, 1918, in France: Aged 23.

Awarded

Distinguished Service Cross.

"For extraordinary heroism in action in France. Adjutant of his brigade at Berzy-le‑Sec, France, July 21, 1918, he repeatedly displayed great bravery, making trips among troops under violent fire, and by his courage and initiative contributed materially to the success of the engagement."

Portrait and obituary in Annual Report, Association of Graduates, for 1918.

Buried, Suresnes American Cemetery,
Suresnes (Hauts-de‑Seine), France.


The Author's Note:

1 Son of Lieut. Indicates a West Point graduate and gives his Class.J. H. Wills, Class of 1881.


Thayer's Note:

a Lt. Wills' birthplace is from his AOG obituary.


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Page updated: 10 Jan 14