Corporal Jesse Nathaniel Funk (August 20, 1888 – March 21, 1933) was a
United States Army
The United States Army (USA) is the land service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army of the United States in the U.S. Constitution.Article II, section 2, cla ...
soldier and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration, the
Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor (MOH) is the United States Armed Forces' highest military decoration and is awarded to recognize American soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen, guardians and coast guardsmen who have distinguished themselves by acts of valor. ...
, for his actions in
World War I
World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...
. He earned the medal while serving as a
stretcher bearer during the
Meuse–Argonne offensive, when he and another soldier,
Charles D. Barger
Charles Denver Barger (June 3, 1892 – November 25, 1936) was a United States Army soldier and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor, for his actions in World War I. He earned the medal while serving ...
, entered
no man's land
No man's land is waste or unowned land or an uninhabited or desolate area that may be under dispute between parties who leave it unoccupied out of fear or uncertainty. The term was originally used to define a contested territory or a dump ...
despite heavy fire and rescued two wounded officers.
Biography
Born in
New Hampton, Missouri
New Hampton is a city in southwest Harrison County, Missouri, United States. The population was 228 at the 2020 census.
History
New Hampton was originally called Hamptonville, and under the latter name was platted in 1869 by Hampton Cox, and na ...
, Funk later moved to
Calhan, Colorado
The Town of Calhan is a Statutory Town located in El Paso County, Colorado, United States. The town population was 762 at the 2020 United States Census. Calhan is a part of the Colorado Springs, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Front Ran ...
, where he worked as a
ranch
A ranch (from es, rancho/Mexican Spanish) is an area of land, including various structures, given primarily to ranching, the practice of raising grazing livestock such as cattle and sheep. It is a subtype of a farm. These terms are most often ...
er.
He married and had one son before entering the Army in 1915.
After training at
Camp Funston
Camp Funston is a U.S. Army training camp located on Fort Riley, southwest of Manhattan, Kansas. The camp was named for Brigadier General Frederick Funston (1865–1917). It is one of sixteen such camps established at the outbreak of World War ...
in
Kansas
Kansas () is a state in the Midwestern United States. Its capital is Topeka, and its largest city is Wichita. Kansas is a landlocked state bordered by Nebraska to the north; Missouri to the east; Oklahoma to the south; and Colorado to the ...
, Funk was sent to Europe with the
354th Infantry Regiment,
89th Division. He saw action in the
Battle of Saint-Mihiel
The Battle of Saint-Mihiel was a major World War I battle fought from 12–15 September 1918, involving the American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) and 110,000 French troops under the command of General John J. Pershing of the United States against ...
and, by October 31, 1918, was a
private first class
Private first class (french: Soldat de 1 classe; es, Soldado de primera) is a military rank held by junior enlisted personnel in a number of armed forces.
French speaking countries
In France and other French speaking countries, the rank (; ) ...
serving as a stretcher bearer in the 354th Regiment's Company L.
On that day, near
Bois-de-Bantheville,
France
France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...
, Funk's division sent several patrols into
no man's land
No man's land is waste or unowned land or an uninhabited or desolate area that may be under dispute between parties who leave it unoccupied out of fear or uncertainty. The term was originally used to define a contested territory or a dump ...
to reconnoiter
German
German(s) may refer to:
* Germany (of or related to)
**Germania (historical use)
* Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language
** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law
**Ger ...
positions in preparation for an advance as part of the
Meuse-Argonne Offensive. Unusually, the patrols had been sent out during daylight, rather than waiting for the cover of darkness. Two patrols from Funk's regiment became pinned down by heavy rifle and machine gun fire. Second Lieutenant John M. Millis was seriously wounded in the legs and ordered his men to leave without him. One man managed to crawl to the safety of the
Allied
An alliance is a relationship among people, groups, or states that have joined together for mutual benefit or to achieve some common purpose, whether or not explicit agreement has been worked out among them. Members of an alliance are called ...
lines and brought news that Millis and another wounded officer were trapped in no man's land.
Upon hearing this, Funk and another stretcher bearer, Private First Class Charles D. Barger, voluntarily ran through heavy machine gun fire with their stretcher and rescued Millis.
They then returned to no man's land and rescued the other officer, First Lieutenant Ernest G. Rowell.
For these actions, both Funk and Barger were awarded the Medal of Honor the next year.
These were the only Medals of Honor received by Army medical personnel in World War I.
Funk reached the rank of
corporal before leaving the Army in 1920. He died at age 44 and was buried at Calhan Cemetery in Calhan, Colorado.
Medal of Honor Citation
Funk's official Medal of Honor citation reads:
Learning that 2 daylight patrols had been caught out in No Man's Land and were unable to return, Pfc. Funk and another stretcher bearer, upon their own initiative, made 2 trips 500 yards beyond our lines, under constant machinegun fire, and rescued 2 wounded officers.
Military awards
Funk's military decorations and awards include:''(more research needed)''
See also
*
List of Medal of Honor recipients
The Medal of Honor was created during the American Civil War and is the highest military decoration presented by the United States government to a member of its armed forces. The recipient must have distinguished themselves at the risk of their ...
*
List of Medal of Honor recipients for World War I
References
:
{{DEFAULTSORT:Funk, Jesse N.
1888 births
1933 deaths
People from El Paso County, Colorado
People from Harrison County, Missouri
United States Army non-commissioned officers
United States Army personnel of World War I
United States Army Medal of Honor recipients
World War I recipients of the Medal of Honor
Military personnel from Missouri
Burials in Colorado