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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Sergeant · U.S. Army

Joseph B. Adkison

Sergeant Joseph B. Adkison, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on September 29, 1918 near Bellicourt, France during World War I.

World War I September 29, 1918

Sergeant Joseph B. Adkison, a soldier in the U.S. Army, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry on September 29, 1918 near Bellicourt, France during World War I. At the time he was serving with Company C, 119th Infantry, 30th Division. Adkison was 26 years old.

10 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on October 5, 1919 — presented by Maj. Landers, at the Atoka Presbyterian Church in Atoka, Tennessee.

Adkison was born on January 4, 1892 in Egypt, Shelby County, Tennessee. His Medal of Honor is credited to Memphis, Shelby County, Tennessee. Adkison died on May 23, 1965 in Memphis, Tennessee, at the age of 73. He is buried at Salem Presbyterian Church Cemetery in Atoka, Tennessee.

Adkison is one of 132 Medal of Honor recipients from World War I and one of 33 credited to Tennessee.

Official Medal of Honor citation

When murderous machine-gun fire at a range of 50 yards had made it impossible for his platoon to advance and had caused the platoon to take cover, Sgt. Adkison alone, with the greatest intrepidity, rushed across the 50 yards of open ground directly into the face of the hostile machine gun, kicked the gun from the parapet into the enemy trench, and at the point of the bayonet captured the three men manning the gun. The gallantry and quick decision of this soldier enabled the platoon to resume its advance.

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

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: World War I.

Places

  • Born: Tipton County — map
  • Died: Atoka — map
  • Buried: Salem Associate Reformed Presbyterian Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Tennessee →

Timeline

  1. January 4, 1892
    Born in Egypt, Shelby County, Tennessee
  2. September 29, 1918
    Act of valor — near Bellicourt, France
    Age 26. Company C, 119th Infantry, 30th Division
  3. October 5, 1919
    Medal of Honor presented
    Presented by Maj. Landers, at the Atoka Presbyterian Church in Atoka, Tennessee.
  4. May 23, 1965
    Died in Memphis, Tennessee
    Age 73.
  5. Resting place
    Salem Presbyterian Church Cemetery
    Atoka, Tennessee

Biography

Joseph Bernard Adkison (January 4, 1892 – May 23, 1965) was an American soldier serving in the U.S. Army during World War I who received the Medal of Honor for bravery.

From the Wikipedia article “Joseph B. Adkison”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

Also honored for actions on September 29, 1918

AE Alan Louis Eggers Sergeant · Army World War I · 1918 FG Frank J. Gaffney Private First Class · Army World War I · 1918 Sydney G. Gumpertz First Sergeant · Army World War I · 1918 John Cridland Latham Sergeant · Army World War I · 1918 ML Milo Lemert First Sergeant · Army World War I · 1918 ✦ Frank Luke Jr. Second Lieutenant · Air Force World War I · 1918 ✦ TO Thomas E. O'Shea Corporal · Army World War I · 1918 ✦ GR George Seanor Robb First Lieutenant · Army World War I · 1918 FS Fred E. Smith Lieutenant Colonel · Army World War I · 1918 ✦ Michael Valente Private · Army World War I · 1918

More World War I recipients from Tennessee

ET Edward R. Talley Sergeant · Army World War I · 1918 JK James Ernest Karnes Sergeant · Army World War I · 1918 Alvin Cullium York Corporal · Army World War I · 1918 CW Calvin John Ward Private · 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.