PFC Wesley M. Adamson
It isn’t often that we find information about World War I Veterans. It is even more unusual to find a story that also includes a photo of the Veteran. The following excerpts from a story about PFC Wesley M. Adamson, from Donley County, was written by Larry E. Hume, Chief Master Sergeant, US Air Force, Retired. He gathered the information from Ancestry.com, The El Paso Times Newspaper dated August 29, 1921, FamilySearch.org, catalog.archives.gov, and the National Archives.
Wesley Adamson was born July 27, 1899, during the summer heat in Collin County, Texas, that now boasts Plano as its largest city. His parents, Minerva Josephine Howeth, a native Texan, married Silas Locke Adamson from Iowa on July 12, 1877, in Collin County. Wesley was the youngest of the family that consisted of one other son and six daughters. Silas provided for his family by farming in Donley County.
With the first World War raging in Europe since 1914, Germany's warfare on civilian shipping finally forced President Woodrow Wilson to request a declaration of war against Germany. The Senate and House both voted to support the President, and war was declared April 6, 1917. At age 17, young Wesley wasted no time in answering the call to duty by enlisting in the Texas National Guard on June 30, 1917.
On July 18, 1918, newly promoted Private First-Class Wesley Adamson departed the Port of Hoboken, New Jersey with his unit aboard the USS Rijndam for the war in France. On October 9 and 10, PFC Adamson’s unit, Company H, 142nd Infantry Regiment, 36th Infantry Division, participated in heavy combat near the village of St. Etienne. Following this victory, which included the capture of several hundred men and officers of the German Army, as well as artillery, the unit launched an assault near an area known as "Forest Farm." The eventual victory brought World War I to an end. During World War I, the division suffered 2,584 casualties, 466 killed in action, and 2,118 wounded in action. PFC Wesley Adamson was killed in action on October 18, 1918, at the age of 19.
Wesley was buried in the St. Etienne-a-Arnes, Ardennes US Army Cemetery.
Wesley was Awarded the French Croix de Guerre with silver star under order with the following Citation:
"Near St. Etienne, October 8 – 10, 1918, he went forward with dash and impetuosity, taking machine gun nests in flank, capturing prisoners, destroying enemy defenses and reorganizing new positions, thus contributing to the success of his unit".
On June 6, 1919, the body of PFC Adamson was disinterred from the temporary grave in Ardennes and reburried in the Argonne American Cemetery, Meuse, France.
Following the war with the many thousands of fallen Americans buried in overseas cemeteries, families were given the option to leave their sons buried in American Cemeteries in Europe or bring them home for reburial. Josie and Silas opted for the latter. On July 13, 1921, the remains of Wesley Adamson were again disinterred and prepared for shipment to the United States arriving at Antwerp, Belgium eight days later. On August 6 over 5,000 bodies of deceased soldiers departed Antwerp aboard the US Army Transport USS Wheaton, arriving at Hoboken, New Jersey 14 days later. Preparations for shipping the remains to their final destination were then underway. The El Paso Times reported that over 10,000 people attended the memorial service held at the pier Sunday, August 28. Wesley's remains left by train for home on September 8, 1921, and arrived at Hedley, Texas four days later, met by family, friends and citizens. He was buried in Rowe Cemetery, Hedley, Donley County, Texas where he now rests with his parents.
It has been 107 years since PFC Wesley Adamson gave his life for his country on foreign soil. Even so, the TPWM has not forgotten his courage and bravery.
