Evidence Mounts Which Questions Why Nickerson, O'Connell And Ryan Didn't Receive Medal of Honor

...............MIDDLEBORO GAZETTE: By Bob Lessard American Legion Simeon L. Nickerson Post 64 .........On the 23rd of July it will be 94 years since Sergeant Simeon L. Nickerson of Middleboro, Corporal Michael J. O'Connell of Jamaica Plain and Private Thomas A. Ryan of Boston were heroically Killed In Action in France in World War 1, while serving with Company D, 101st Infantry, 26th Division. ………………Members of the Middleboro Veterans Council, which consists of VFW John Glass Jr. Post 2188, Simeon L. Nickerson American Legion Post 64, Taunton Chapter 57 of the DAV and the Oak Point Veterans Association, were recently updated on the research developments concerning the quest to gain an upgrade to the Medal of Honor for the three heroes. ……………..A very important discovery by officials researching the files at the National Archives at College Park, Maryland produced the original recommendations for the Distinguished Service Cross for the men. ……………..In a reply letter dated June 27 to this writer, Mr. Eric van Slander of the Textual Archives Services Division wrote: "This letter is in reply to recent request to the National Archives for copies of records, which relate to the heroic actions that led to the posthumous awarding of the Distinguished Service Crosses to Sgt. Simeon L. Nickerson, Cpl. Michael J. O'Connell and Pvt. Thomas A. Ryan during World War 1." ……………..The enclosed copies included two eyewitness accounts of the death of Simeon L. Nickerson, which were among those printed in the June 28, 2012 article in the Gazette. Most important were the three recommendations for the DSC in the original language submitted by Second Lieutenant David Hunter, 101st Infantry. ……………..Here is what Lieutenant Hunter wrote about the actions of Simeon L. Nickerson on July 23, 1918: …………."Sergeant Simeon L. Nicker-son, Company D, 101st Infantry (posthumously) is recommended for the Distinguished Service Cross by Second Lieut. David Hunter, 101st Infantry, for extraordinary heroism on July 23, 1918, near Epieds. Sergeant Nickerson volunteered together with Corporal O'Connell and Pri-vate Ryan to cross an open field in front of Company D, 101st Infantry, in order to draw the fire of an enemy machine gun in order to locate its position, thereby saving the lives of a great many others. (Editor's note: the following is different than the language seen in his official citation.) The courage of Sergeant Nickerson and his willingness to sacrifice his own life for the live (sic) of his men gave an example of the highest order of heroism and comradeship.") ...... (NOTE: See Lt. Hunter's wording..:"..AN EXAMPLE OF THE HIGHEST ORDER." Isn't the "HIGHEST ORDER" the Medal of Honor?")……………Lieutenant Hunter makes the same recommendations for the DSC with some slight changes in the wording for both O'Connell and Ryan. ……………Recently members of the Massachusetts Congressional delegation were contacted and provided with many pages of pertinent research regarding the upgrade request. The following 'Ask For Review" was attached to a letter requesting their assistance. ……………Ask For Review "The Secretary of the Army is asked to review the voluntary self-sacrificing heroics of three WW1 Massachusetts men of Company D, 101st Infantry, 26th Division, Sergeant Simeon L. Nickerson, Corporal Michael J. O'Connell and Private Thomas A. Ryan, who were killed in action near Epieds, France on July 23, 1918."The three heroes were posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross. ……………..There are many who question if the DSC should be upgraded to the Medal of Honor for their "Above and Beyond the Call of Duty" actions. Their Distinguished Service Cross citation language bears witness to their heroic actions: ………………"'Citation: The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Simeon L. Nickerson, Sergeant, U.S. Army, for the extraordinary heroism in action near Epieds, France, July 23, 1918.Sergeant Nickerson, 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. General Orders NO.116, W.D., 1918.” …………. Mike Wallace wrote the Introduction for the 2002 book by Allen Mikaelian "Medal of Honor- Profiles of America's Military Heroes from the Civil War to the Present." ………… In that introduction, Mr. Wallace wrote of the criteria required to earn the Medal of Honor: "...by law, be awarded only to one who in action involving conflict with an enemy "distinguished himself conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity" …………."There also must be evidence that he put his own life on the line and that he acted "above and beyond the call of duty." And to my surprise, I learned that no one can receive a Medal of Honor for having acted under orders, no matter how heroically he carried out those orders, for the medal is reserved strictly for those who act of their own accord and out of complete selflessness. ……………..It is those rigorous conditions that set the Medal of Honor apart from all other military considerations," wrote Mr. Wallace. ……………Nickerson, O'Connell and Ryan certainly "distinguished" themselves "conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity," when they, according to the Distinguished Service Cross language written by their commander, "volunteered to cross an open field in front of their company, in order to ascertain the location of enemy machine guns." Further, their citation reads, "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." ……………..Mr. Wallace's description "....the medal is reserved strictly for those who act of their own accord and out of complete selflessness," indicates that Nickerson, O'Connell and Ryan by their volunteering qualify for the "rigorous conditions that set the Medal of Honor apart..." Since the founding in 1919 of American Legion Post 64 in Middleboro, which is named after Simeon L. Nickerson, members of that organization have questioned why Nickerson and the other two men were denied the Medal of Honor. ……………….It is important to note that a handful of men serving with Nickerson came from Middleboro and the area. Therefore, some of his home-town friends were present on July 23, 1918 when Nickerson, O'Connell and Ryan volun-teered for their deadly mission. ……………….One of those men told his son about shaking Nickerson's hand just before he went over the top. "His son has signed a sworn statement to that fact. Also, deposed eyewitness statements from men of the unit provide testimony regarding the actions of the Killed In Action volunteers. ……………….In February, 1917, revocation of 911 Medals of Honor took place due to the Army's ques-tionable awarding of that prestigious medal during the Civil and Indian Wars. All 911 medals were purged from the Army's list of recipients. ………………..The Distinguished Service Cross was instituted on July 9, 1918. Among the first to be awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, according to a New York Times article printed October 15, 1918, were Sergeant Simeon L. Nickerson, Corporal Michael J. O'Connell and Private Thomas A. Ryan, posthumously. ………………..There were 38 men mentioned by name along with the printing of their citations in that article. Were some of those men denied the Medal of Honor due to political or prejudicial reasons? ……………….Was this list of 38 ever reviewed for a possible upgrade? Nickerson, O'Connell and Ryan certainly, in our opinion, should have received the Medal of Honor. There were at least 25 of the 38 men presented the Distinguished Service Cross who served with the 26th Division under General Clarence Edwards. ……………….At the time, according to various reports, there had been animosity directed towards General Edwards by the staff of General Pershing. ……………….Was the dislike by General John J. Pershing of National Guard soldiers and General Clarence Edwards, Commander of the 26th Division, so strong, as reported by various sources, a reason for only two Medals of Honor (Dilboy and Perkins) issued to the 26th Division? ……………….A recent communiqué provided by the Department of the Army, Center of Military History at Fort Lesley J. McNair, dated 9 May, 2012, provided by Dr. Brian F. Neuman, Historian of the Contemporary Studies Branch, included historical records and some contextual information which states in part: ... "General John J. Pershing, commander of the American Expeditionary Forces, never cared for the division due to National Guard pedigree nor for its commander, Major General Clarence R. Edwards..." ……………….Pershing's apparent prejudice against the National Guard may well be a reason why the 26th Division men only earned two Medals of Honor. A New York Times article dated December 9, 1918 and headlined "Gen. Edwards' Friends Want An Inquiry." …………………Nickerson, O'Connell and Ryan saved lives through their volunteering self-sacrificing actions. ………………..Why were they denied the Medal of Honor? Was it due to General Pershing's prejudices? ………………..It would behoove the Secretary of the Army to scrutinize the October 15, 1918 New York Times article containing the citations of the 38 men listed. Applying the "Above and Beyond the Call of Duty" Medal of Honor requirement and the Distinguished Service Cross citation language associated with Nickerson, O'Connell and Ryan. In our opinion, a ruling for an upgrade should be granted. A written reply to this upgrade request is in order."