Mr. Pope, although he saw action for only two days during the war, received commendations from four nations as well as the highest honor the United States gives to military personnel.
On July 4, 1918, he had been in France 34 days and had seen no action. A corporal, he spotted a machine-gun nest. He waved his platoon to lie low and he charged the nest, killing the gunner before he could swing the machine gun toward the platoon. He bayoneted another German soldier and held off eight others. His men took them prisoners.
His heroics continued that day as he and his platoon took 100 prisoners. The next day he was seriously gassed and then sent to an Army hospital.
During World War I, 95 U.S. soldiers received the Medal of Honor. Mr. Pope was the last surviving one. One other winner, who served in the Navy, is still alive.
In 1923, Mr. Pope was elected president of the Combat Medal Men, an organization of men who were awarded the honor.
He served as a contact officer for the Veterans Administration, advising other vets or their survivors about their rights. He had formerly been a district foreman for the Cook County Highway Department.
Survivors include 3 daughters, Marguerite Bugarewicz, Betty Jayne Schmitt and Jackie Stone; 8 grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.
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