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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Private First Class · U.S. Army

Jesse N. Funk

Private First Class Jesse N. Funk, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on October 31, 1918 near Bois-de-Bantheville, France during World War I.

World War I October 31, 1918

Private First Class Jesse N. Funk, a soldier in the U.S. Army, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry on October 31, 1918 near Bois-de-Bantheville, France during World War I. At the time he was serving with Company L, 354th Infantry, 89th Division. Funk was 30 years old.

One other service member also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on February 9, 1919. Chaumont, France - presented by General John J. Pershing.

Funk was born on August 20, 1888 in New Hampton, Harrison County, Missouri. His Medal of Honor is credited to Calhan, El Paso County, Colorado. Funk died on March 21, 1933 in Calhan, Colorado, at the age of 44. He is buried at Calhan Cemetery in Calhan, Colorado.

Funk is one of 132 Medal of Honor recipients from World War I and one of 24 credited to Colorado.

★ Rescue & Lifesaving

Official Medal of Honor citation

Learning that two daylight patrols had been caught out in No Man's Land and were unable to return, Pfc. Funk and another stretcher bearer, upon their own initiative, made two trips 500 yards beyond our lines, under constant machine-gun fire, and rescued two wounded officers.

Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: World War I.

Places

  • Born: New Hampton — map
  • Buried: Calhan Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Colorado →

Timeline

  1. August 20, 1888
    Born in New Hampton, Harrison County, Missouri
  2. October 31, 1918
    Act of valor — near Bois-de-Bantheville, France
    Age 30. Company L, 354th Infantry, 89th Division
  3. February 9, 1919
    Medal of Honor presented
    Chaumont, France - presented by General John J. Pershing
  4. March 21, 1933
    Died in Calhan, Colorado
    Age 44.
  5. Resting place
    Calhan Cemetery
    Calhan, Colorado

Biography

Corporal Jesse Nathaniel Funk (August 20, 1888 – March 21, 1933) was a United States Army soldier and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor, for his actions in World War I. He earned the medal while serving as a stretcher bearer during the Meuse–Argonne offensive, when he and another soldier, Charles D. Barger, entered no man's land despite heavy fire and rescued two wounded officers.

From the Wikipedia article “Jesse N. Funk”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

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Also honored for actions on October 31, 1918

CB Charles Denver Barger Private First Class · Army World War I · 1918

More World War I recipients from Colorado

FU Frank Monroe Upton Quartermaster · Navy World War I · 1918 JW John Hunter Wickersham Second Lieutenant · Army World War I · 1918 ✦ MC Marcellus Holmes Chiles Captain · Army World War I · 1918 ✦
Sources. Service and award details compiled from the recipient record of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, Wikidata and Wikipedia. The narrative summary is generated from these records. Spotted an error? Send a correction.