Thomas E. O'Shea (April 18, 1895-September 29, 1918) was a United States Army Corporal during World War I. He was killed by Germans while trying to rescue others near Le Catelet, France on September 29, 1918. He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions. O'Shea is buried in Somme American Cemetery and Memorial in Picardie, France. Rank and organization - Corporal, U.S. Army, Machine Gun Company, 107th Infantry, 27th Division. Place and date - Near Le Catelet, France, 29 September 1918. Entered service at - Summit, New Jersey. Birth - New York City, New York. General Orders No.20. War Department, 1919. Becoming separated from their platoon by a smoke barrage, Cpl. O'Shea, with 2 other soldiers, took cover in a shell hole well within the enemy's lines. Upon hearing a call for help from an American tank, which had become disabled 30 yards from them, the 3 soldiers left their shelter and started toward the tank under heavy fire from German machineguns and trench mortars. In crossing the fire-swept area Cpl. O'Shea was mortally wounded and died of his wounds shortly afterwards - aged 23 John Cridland Latham (March 3, 1888-November 5, 1975) was a Sergeant in the United States Army during World War I. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions in combat near Le Catelet, France, on September 29, 1918. Rank and organization - Sergeant, United States Army, Machine Gun Company, 107th Infantry, 27th Division. Place and date - Near Le Catelet, France, September 29, 1918. Entered service at - Rutherford, New Jersey Born - March 3, 1888, Windermere, England. General Orders No.20. War Department, 1919. Died - November 02 1975 at the age of 87 Becoming separated from their platoon by a smoke barrage, Sgt. Latham, Sgt. Alan L. Eggers, and Cpl. Thomas E. O'Shea took cover in a shellhole well within the enemy's lines. Upon hearing a call for help from an American tank which had become disabled 30 yards from them, the 3 soldiers left their shelter and started toward the tank under heavy fire from German machineguns and trench mortars. In crossing the fire-swept area, Cpl. O'Shea was mortally wounded, but his companions, undeterred, proceeded to the tank, rescued a wounded officer, and assisted 2 wounded soldiers to cover in the sap of a nearby trench. Sgts. Latham and Eggers then returned to the tank in the face of the violent fire, dismounted a Hotchkiss gun, and took it back to where the wounded men were keeping off the enemy all day by effective use of the gun and later bringing it with the wounded men back to our lines under cover of darkness. http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/jlatham.htm Alan Louis Eggers (November 2, 1895-October 3, 1968) was a Sergeant in the United States Army during World War I. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions in combat near Le Catelet, France, on September 29, 1918. Eggers was a student at Cornell University before departing for service. He was awarded the degree of "War Alumnus" in 1921. Rank and organization - Sergeant, United States Army, Machine Gun Company, 107th Infantry, 27th Division. Place and date - Near Le Catelet, France, September 29, 1918. Entered service at - Summit, New Jersey. Birth - Saranac Lake, New York. General Orders No.20. War Department, 1919. Died - October 03, 1968 at the age of 72 Becoming separated from their platoon by a smoke barrage, Sgt. Eggers, Sgt. John C. Latham and Cpl. Thomas E. O'Shea took cover in a shell hole well within the enemy's lines. Upon hearing a call for help from an American tank, which had become disabled 30 yards from them, the 3 soldiers left their shelter and started toward the tank, under heavy fire from German machine-guns and trench mortars. In crossing the fire-swept area Cpl. O'Shea was mortally wounded, but his companions, undeterred, proceeded to the tank, rescued a wounded officer, and assisted 2 wounded soldiers to cover in a sap of a nearby trench. Sgt. Eggers and Sgt. Latham then returned to the tank in the face of the violent fire, dismounted a Hotchkiss gun, and took it back to where the wounded men were, keeping off the enemy all day by effective use of the gun and later bringing it, with the wounded men, back to our lines under cover of darkness. http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/aleggers.htm http://ecommons.library.cornell.edu/bitstream/1813/3536/21/021_20.pdf
