John Kernan McCormick was born on September 20, 1890, in New York, New York County, New York. He served in the 107th Infantry Regiment, 27th Division, as a Corporal during World War I. His official death date is October 18, 1918, but a story from a letter sent to Cpl McCormick's mother about Cpl McCormick's death was October 17. He is now buried in the Somme American Cemetery, Bony, France.

Thomas Lyuskey of Company “D” writes John’s mother on January 9, 1919, from Tuffe, France

“My Dear Mrs. McCormick,

Being a colleague and a very good friend of your son John, since the time of our enlistment in the old 7th N.Y. and being with him in the same dugout at the Deikenbush Line in Belgium, I want to extend to you my sympathy in your bereavement.

After coming out of the line from the attack on the Hindenburg Line, south of Vendehule, near Bellicourt, John, because during the attack, he showed himself more steady, courageous and fearless than most of the other corporals, was chosen to take charge of the Burial Detail and work in conjunction with Fathers’ Hoey and Kelly. This was 8 days of nothing but work and many a pitiful sight came his way. After the detail was dismissed, he was told to take his detachment and report to his Company. On the way, reporting to “D” Company, the four men with him went to the hospital with indications of the “Flu”. One of them Pvt. Peter A. Egan, who died later & John reported alone to the Company in the front line near Vaux Audigny about 5pm, October 16th. He lost very little time in digging himself some form of shelter to make things as comfortable as conditions would permit in a foremost position like that. About 2:30am on the 17th, a 77mm shell, better known to us as a “Whiz Bang” struck the top of John’s dugout killing him instantly. His body was taken back to the Battalion Headquarters as soon as possible. From the men, who were on the Burial Detail, I’ve learned that he was buried near Vaux Audigny, but the exact Grave Location & Map Reference has not been received by the Company. That is the reason I’ve delayed this letter in hopes that it would contain the above.” Corporal John K. McCormick, Company D, 107th Infantry 1210345 was cited by Special Order No. 86 from the Army of the United States of America posthumously “For courage and determination in effecting the capture of enemy prisoners in the Battle of the Hindenburg Line, September 29th-30th, 1918.”

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, www.abmc.gov, www.worldwar1centennial.org