ISOB Captain John Blanchfield - DSC, WW1
Details:
In the church graveyard. Isolated Burial
A standard upright US Military white inscribed gravestone.
The Isolated Burial of Captain John Blachfield, USMC. Captain Blanchfield was from Tipperary County, Ireland and immigrated to the US in 1901 where he entered in the US Marines. He served in several Central American expeditions. During WW1 he served in the 5th Marines which was part of the US Army, 2nd Infantry Divsion. He was killed leading his Company near Château-Thierry during the 2nd Battle of the Marne in June 1918. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross and the Navy Cross for his actions.
The citation reads: The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Captain John Blanchfield (MCSN: 0-1825), United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism while serving with the Fifth Regiment (Marines), 2d Division, A.E.F., in action at Chateau-Thierry, France, 6 June 1918. Captain Blanchfield demonstrated exceptional ability in organizing his line at Chateau-Thierry and showed heroic leadership in holding it under violent attack. His company successfully repelled two assaults by superior forces, in the second of which he was mortally wounded.
Source: https://ww2irishaviation.com
Monument Text:
JOHN
BLANCHFIELD
NEW YORK
CAPT
5TH MARINE REGIMENT
2 DIV
JUNE 8, 1918
Commemorates:
People:
Units:
2nd Infantry Division
5th Marine Regiment
5th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division
American Expeditionary Forces (AEF)
Wars:
WWI
Battles:
2nd Marne