1st. Sgt. Wesley F. Pease, 26th YD

Submitted by: Shawn Pease

1st. Sgt. Wesley F. Pease, 26th YD, served in World War 1 with the United States Army. The dates of service are: Known April 1917 - March 1919.

 

In 1916 Wesley F. Pease joined the Massachusetts National Guard with some of his young friends. Enlisting the Massachusetts National Guard in 1916 may have been a way for Wesley to serve his country and have an adventure or two, as well as earn a regular pay for his service.

When the guard was called into service to protect the southern border in 1916 by President Wilson, Wesley departed from Newton, Massachusetts by train in July 1916 and served on the border at Camp Cotton, El Paso, TX. This experience would prove valuable, as in early 1917 he was called into service again as part of the 26th Yankee Division.

He departed in Sept 1917 from Hoboken, NJ aboard the SS Tenedors and sailed directly to France as part of Co. C, 101st Infantry, 26h Division. He would serve for the duration of the war, advancing to the rank of 1st. Sgt. Co. C, 101st Infantry and then returning to Massachusetts in April 1919.

Wesley proudly wore all his medals in Memorial Day parades for the rest of his life. His decorations included the U.S. Silver Star (for bravery in action in Oct 1918 northeast of Verdun), French Verdun Medal, French Chateau-Thierry Medal, Mexican Border Service medal, and his prized WW1 Victory Medal with 5 battle clasps as a member of the 26th Yankee Division.