Military Veterans
James M. Wilson
Date of Birth
Date of Death
Brick Location
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Biography
Private James M. Wilson served in the U.S. Army during World War I, 1917-1919.
Private Wilson enlisted at the age of 29.
He fought in the Battle of Argonne and ended the war in Verdun, France.
From Wikipedia, "Meuse-Argonne Offensive"
The Meuse-Argonne Offensive, also called the Battle of the Argonne Forest, was a part of the final Allied offensive of World War I that stretched along the entire western front. The whole offensive was planned by Marshall Ferninand Foch to breach the Hindenburg line and ultimately force the opposing German forces to capitulate. The big September/October Allied breakthroughs (north, center and south) across the length of the Hindenburg Line— including the Battle of the Argonne Forest—are now lumped together as part of what is generally remembered as the Grand Offensive (also known as the Hundred Days Offensive) by the Allies on the Western front. The Meuse-Argonne offensive also involved troops from France, while France, Britain and its dominion/commonwealth armies (mainly Canada, Australia and New Zealand), and Belgium contributed to major battles in other sectors across the whole front.
The Grand Offensive, including American, British, French and Belgian advances in the north along with the French-American advances around the Argonne Forest, is credited for leading directly to the Armistice on November 11.
The Meuse-Argonne offensive was the biggest operation and victory of the American Expeditionary Force (AEF) in World War I. The bulk of the AEF had not gone into action until 1918. The Meuse-Argonne battle was the largest frontline commitment of troops by the U.S. Army in World War I, and also its deadliest.
The main U.S. effort of the Meuse-Argonne offensive took place in the Verdun Sector, immediately north and northwest of the town of Verdun, between 26 September and 11 November 1918. Of the battles that constituted the Grand Offensive, this is the one best remembered in the U.S.
Branch:
Awards and Medals
Rank
Private First Class
Years
World War I—1917-1919
Duty
Army Engineers
Bugler, Army Band; Officer Chauffeur