LT Thomas Rodman, American Red Cross, Memorial Plaque
Details:
On the right side of the entrance of the town hall. Plaque
A brass inscribed plaque remembering Lieutenant Thomas Rodman Plummer who was the American Red Cross representative who ran the canteen in Moyenmoutier, France During World War 1.
Thomas Plummer was from a distinguished whaling family from New Bedford, Massachusetts. He was born on February 28, 1862. He served with the American Red Cross and managed the Franco-American Canteen located opposite the Moyenmoutier, France town hall (Mairie)] during World War 1. His citation reads that he was too old to serve on active duty, yet was promoted to the rank of lieutenant. He died at nearby Raon-l'Etape at the age of 56, on November 24, 1918. He was awarded the French Croix de Guerre for his service to France during the war.
Plummer's nephew, 2LT Charles Plummer was KIA while serving as an aerial observer with the 101st Infantry Regiment of the 26th Infantry Division. He was killed along with the Pilot of his aircraft, 1LT Joel Hilliard McClendon, of the 88th Aero Squadron, near Fismes, France on August 11, 1918.
Thomas Plummer is buried in the Moyenmoutier Community Cemetery.
Monument Text:
The text on the plaque is written in French and reads:
LA MÉMOIRE DE
THOMAS RODMAN PLUMMER
NÉ À NEW BEDFORD ÉTATS-UNIS D'AMÉRIQUE
LE 28 FÉVRIER 1862
MORT À RAON-L'ÉTAPE
LE 24 NOVEMBRE 1918
-
EN FACE DE LA MAIRIE ÉTAIT ÉTABLIE
PENDANT LA GRANDE GUERRE
LA CANTINE FRANCO-AMÉRICAINE
DIRIGÉE AVEC UN INFATIGABLE ET
GÉNÉREUX DÉVOUEMENT
PAR
LE LIEUTENANT PLUMMER
-
CITATION
SUJET AMÉRICAIN DÉGAGÉ PAR SON ÂGE DE
TOUTE OBLIGATION MILITAIRE CONSTAMMENT
À PROXIMITÉ DES LIGNES DANS UN SECTEUR
OÙ LES RIGUEURS DU CLIMAT SONT
PARTICULÈREMENT DURE A SU CRÉER ET
ORGANISER PLUSIEURS POSTES DE
RÉCONFORT AUX POINT LES PLUS AVANCÉS
DE SON SECTEUR ASSURANT AINSI AUX
TROUPES EN LIGNE LES RESSOURCES
BIENFAISANTES DE SA CANTINE
Translation:
IN MEMORY OF
THOMAS RODMAN PLUMMER
BORN IN NEW BEDFORD UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
FEBRUARY 28, 1862
DIED AT RAON-L'ÉTAPE
NOVEMBER 24, 1918
IN FRONT OF THIS BUILDING
A FRENCH-AMERICAN CANTEEN WAS
ESTABLISHED DURING THE WAR
UNDER THE DIRECTION AND
TIRELAESS DEDICATION
OF LT PLUMMER
CITATION:
AN AMERICAN CITIZEN
NOT OBLIGATED BY HIS AGE TO SERVE
SERVED NEAR THE FRONT LINES
IN HARSH WEATHER AND
CONDITIONS AND ESTABLISHED
COMFORT STATIONS NEAR THE FRONT LINE
FOR THE USE OF FRONT LINE TROOPS
Commemorates:
People:
Units:
American Red Cross
Wars:
WWI
Other images :
