Burke Gets State Support Letter Seeking An Upgrade From DSC To MOH For Heroic WW1Trio

………………………..By BOB LESSARD Simeon L. Nickerson American Legion Post 64 MIDDLEBORO —

…………………MIDDLEBORO GAZETTE:- A letter of support in pursuit of an upgrade of the Distinguished Service Cross to a Medal of Honor was received last week by Commander Bob Burke of Middleboro's Simeon L. Nickerson American Legion Post 64.The letter was from the headquarters of the American Legion Department of Massachusetts.

…………………Commander Burke,who also serves as District 10 Executive Committeeman,had informed the Massachusetts Department of the particulars regarding the Medal of Honor upgrade request. The letter concerning the possible upgrade speaks of the heroics of Sergeant Nickerson and his two comrades Corporal Michael J. O'Connell and Private Thomas A Ryan in World War 1.

………………."All three men were living in Massachusetts at the time of their heroic deaths. Nickerson was from Middleboro, O'Connell from Jamaica Plain, while Ryan lived in Boston.

……………….In addition, the letter further states: "The Post believes that Sergeant Nickerson and his two fellow heroes should have been awarded the Medal of Honor. A the time, they were awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for their heroic volunteer service when they were killed In Action on July 23, 1918."

……………….. As noted, the Middleboro American Legion Post is named in honor of Simeon L. Nickerson since its organization in 1919. American Legion Post 76 in Jamaica Plain was originally named after Michael J. O'Connell. Today there is a small grassy area on Post 76 property dedicated to O'Connell. It was reported that a Boston area street was named in memory of Thomas A. Ryan.

…………………Each of the men were cited in their Distinguished Service Cross award by the U.S. Army for what Post 64 members believe to be above and beyond the call of duty for their suicidal mission with this language under General Orders No. 116, W.D. 1918:

………………......"...for extraordinary heroism in action near Epieds, France, July 23, 1918. Sergeant Nicker-son, Corporal M.J. O'Connell, and Private Thomas Ryan volunteered to cross an open field in front of their company, in order to ascertain the location of enemy machine guns. While engaged in this courageous enterprise they were shot and killed. The heroic self-sacrifice of these three men saved the lives of many of their comrades who would have been killed had the company attempted to make the advance as a whole."

…………………At the time it was reported that the machine guns were exposed and destroyed due to the trio's actions. According to a U.S. Army report, the battle area, where Nickerson, O'Connell and Ryan were serving with Co D, 101st Infantry, 26th Division, was involved in heavy fighting.

……………….The Division suffered some 4,644 casualties during an advance of ten miles. A New York Times article of July 26, 1918, reporting on the fight for Epieds was "...the most severe and costly in which the Americans have engaged.

………………" The American Legion letter jointly signed by state Commander John P. Lenotte and Adjutant Leslie J. McKittrick, Jr. Members of the Massachusetts' Congressional delegation are being approached to support the medal upgrade. The letter in part reads: "If there is anything you can do to help in achieving this upgrade to a Medal of Honor it will be appreciated."

……………..Simeon L. Nickerson and Private Thomas A. Ryan are both buried in France in the American Cemetery at Oise-Aisne in Fere-en-Tardenois. As they served, fought and died together they are buried right next to each other in Plot A, Row 19.

………………After the war, Michael J. O'Connell's body was returned to his family in Ire-land. He is buried in the family plot in Moore Cemetery in Rascommon. Currently, family descendants of O'Connell in Ireland are in possession of his Distinguished Service Cross.

……………..Recently, the local Legion post was contacted by phone from Oranmore, Ireland by Miss Bernadette Turley, grand-niece of Michael J. O'Connell. She is the daughter of Frank Turley, grand uncle of Michael. Because of the Distinguished Service Cross, Miss Turley started researching O'Connell's military history.

…………….During her research online, she discovered the quest for the possible upgrade of the DSC to a Medal of Honor. She wrote, "We are appreciative that you are looking into the MOH they so deserved." Miss Turley mailed some family photos and also included the family tree. She pointed out that Michael had four brothers, Martin, Edward, Owen and Patrick and two sisters, Mary Anne and Katie.

…………….In an e-mail she said, "He(Michael)went to the USA at 16 years. He worked in a store before joining the Army. He had an aunt living in Boston named Mary Heneghan. Martin, his brother, was injured in WW1. And, his son was Killed In Action in WW11. Edward joined the Navy. Both Owen and Patrick stayed in Ireland," she concluded.