Wesley Adamson was born July 27, 1899 during the summer heat in Collin County, Texas that now boasts Plano as its largest city. His parents Minerva Josephine Howeth, a native Texan married Silas Locke Adamson from Iowa on July 12, 1877 in Collin County. Wesley was the youngest of the family that consisted of one other son, Robert Gardner and six daughters, Ela Rama, Zarah, Arva, Nova, Lavenia “Ludie” and Jessie. Sister Arva had died at the age of three before Wesley was born and another sister, Ludie passed at the age of 17 when he was eleven. Father Silas provided for his family as a farmer like many at that time. All of the children would have been responsible for chores compatible with their age and Silas may have wished for more boys.

With the World War raging in Europe since 1914, Germany’s unrestricted submarine warfare on civilian shipping finally forced President Woodrow Wilson to appear before a joint session of Congress to request a declaration of war against Germany. The Senate and House both voted to support the President and war was declared April 6, 1917.

At age 17, young Wesley wasted no time in answering the call to duty by enlisted in the Texas National Guard on June 30, 1917. Initially assigned to Company B, 7 Infantry, Texas NG on October 15 he was reassigned to Company H, 142 Infantry Regiment of the newly formed 36 Infantry Division, Camp Bowie, Fort Worth, Texas. The 36th known as the Arrowhead or T Patch Division was composed of National Guard units from both Texas and Oklahoma.

On July 18, 1918, newly promoted Private First Class Wesley Adamson departed the Port of Hoboken, New Jersey with his unit aboard the USS Rijndam for the war in France. He listed his father Silas of Hedley, Texas as his next of kin. Immediately upon arrival all units, with the exception of the artillery, were sent to the Thirteenth training area in the vicinity of Bar-sur-Aube, where division headquarters was established on July 27. Major operations were conducted by the 36 Division in the Meuse-Argonne Offensive. On October 9 and 10, the unit participated in heavy combat near the village of St. Etienne. Following this victory, which included the capture of several hundred men and officers of the German Army, as well as artillery, the unit launched an assault near an area known as "Forest Farm." The eventual victory brought World War I to an end. During World War I, the division suffered 2,584 casualties, 466 killed in action and 2,118 wounded in action. PFC Wesley Adamson was killed in action on October 18, 1918 at the age of 19.

He was buried in the St. Etienne-a-Arnes, Ardennes US Army Cemetery # 1129, Grave # 130, Row # 4. Final rites were given by Chaplain C. H. Barnes. Wesley was Awarded the French Croix de Guerre with silver star under order Number 15.369 “D” dated April 4, 1919, General Headquarters, French Armies of the East with the following Citation: “Near St. Etienne, October 8 – 10, 1918, he went forward with dash and impetuosity, taking machine gun nests in flank, capturing prisoners, destroying enemy defenses and reorganizing new positions, thus contributing to the success of his unit”.

On June 6, 1919, the body of PFC Adamson was disinterred from the temporary grave at Cemetery 1129 and reburied in the Argonne American Cemetery, Romagne-sous-Montfaucon, Meuse, France, grave # 204, Section 91, Plot # 4.

Following the war with the many thousands of fallen Americans buried in overseas cemeteries, families were given the option to leave their sons buried in American Cemeteries in Europe or bring them home for reburial. Josie and Silas opted for the latter. On July 13, 1921, the remains of Wesley Adamson were again disinterred and prepared for shipment to the United States arriving at Antwerp, Belgium eight days later. On August 6 over 5,000 bodies of deceased soldiers departed Antwerp aboard the US Army Transport USS Wheaton. Arriving at Pier 4, Hoboken, New Jersey 14 days later preparations for shipping the remains to their final destination was underway. The El Paso Times reported that over 10,000 people attended the memorial service held at the pier Sunday, August 28. Wesley’s remains left by train for home on September 8, 1921 and arrived at Hedley, Texas four days later greeted by family, friends and citizens. He was buried in the Rowe Cemetery, Hedley, Donley County, Texas where he now rests with his parents. On September 1, 1921, his mother Josie made application for his Victory Medal. It was approved with two battle claps, Meuse-Argonne and Offensive Sector. Day is done, God is nigh.

“That these dead shall not have died in vain”……Abraham Lincoln

(It was my honor to put this short bio together for Wesley M. Adamson although I know it does not do his life justice. Lest we forget…………Larry E. Hume, Chief Master Sergeant, US Air Force, Retired).

Sources: Ancestry.com; Newspapers.com (El Paso Times, El Paso, Texas, 8/29/1921); Family Search.org; catalog.archives.gov, National Archives Identifier: 108977774 Container Identifier: 1; Find A Grave Memorial 10547439.