Corporal Youman Z. Weeks

Submitted by: Mr. William J. Weeks (Nephew) and Dr. Joseph L. Weeks (grandnephew)

Corporal Youman Z. Weeks served in World War 1 with the United States Army. The dates of service are: Unknown .

 

Youman Z. Weeks was born in Bogue, North Carolina in 1896 to Edward Grayham Weeks and Mary Godwin. He was the eighth child among a total of seven boys and four girls. His father was a tenant farmer. Youman left the farm as a young man and moved to Colleton, South Carolina where he enlisted in the Army.

Although the date of his enlistment is not known, he was killed in action on October 8, 1918. He was presented with the Distinguished Service Cross for extraordinary heroism. This medal is the second highest military decoration that can be awarded to a member of the United States Army; second to the Medal of Honor. His medal citation follows:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Youman Z. Weeks, Corporal, Company F, 118th Infantry Regiment, 30th Division, A.E.F., U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near Bellicourt, France, September 30, 1918, and October 8, 1918. Corporal Weeks on the morning of September 30, when two enemy machine-guns were making a part of the line untenable, advanced across open ground upon one of the guns, rushed the position alone, captured the gun and five of the enemy, and shot down the sixth, who endeavored to escape. By this gallant act he prevented the enemy from enfilading our position and thereby saved the lives of many of his comrades. In a later advance [October 8, 1918], while leading his men in an attack upon an enemy machine-gun nest, he was killed.

The war ended 34 days later. Youman was 22 years of age. One of his older brothers was my Grandfather, Edward Lee Weeks. Even fifty-five years later when my Grandfather was in his final days, he would weep over the loss of his younger brother.

Citation Reference: Congressional Medal of Honor, the Distinguished Service Cross, and the Distinguished Service Medal issued by the War Department, Washington, Government Printing Office, 1920, page 674.  Available on line at URL https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc276268/