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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Lieutenant, j.g. · U.S. Navy

Weedon Edward Osborne

Lieutenant, j.g. Weedon Edward Osborne, Navy, received the Medal of Honor posthumously for actions on June 6, 1918 in Bouresches, France during World War I.

World War I June 6, 1918Posthumous

Serving as a sailor in the U.S. Navy, Lieutenant, j.g. Weedon Edward Osborne was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously for his actions on June 6, 1918 in Bouresches, France during World War I. At the time he was serving with Dental Corps, attached to 6th Regiment, U.S. Marines. Osborne was 25 years old.

Osborne was killed in the action for which his medal was awarded. 2 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day.

Osborne was born on November 13, 1892 in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois. His Medal of Honor is credited to Illinois. He is buried at Aisne-Marne Cemetery in Belleau Aisne, France. His medal is held by Naval Historical Center, Washington Navy Yard, Washington, DC.

Osborne is one of 132 Medal of Honor recipients from World War I and one of 210 credited to Illinois.

★ Rescue & Lifesaving★ Gave Their Lives

Official Medal of Honor citation

For extraordinary heroism while attached to the 6th Regiment, U.S. Marines, in actual conflict with the enemy and under fire during the advance on Bouresche, France, on 6 June 1918. In the hottest of the fighting when the marines made their famous advance on Bouresche at the southern edge of Belleau Wood, Lt. (j.g.) Osborne threw himself zealously into the work of rescuing the wounded. Extremely courageous in the performance of this perilous task, he was killed while carrying a wounded officer to a place of safety.

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

Wounds and death in action

  • Killed in action during the act for which the medal was awarded (June 6, 1918).
  • Age at death: 25
  • Resting place: Aisne-Marne Cemetery

Battles and campaigns

1918 · World War I

Battle of Belleau Wood

Result: Allied victory

9 Medal of Honor recipients

Also served in: World War I.

Life beyond the battlefield

Source: Wikidata.

Places

  • Born: Chicago — map
  • Died: Aisne — map
  • Buried: Aisne-Marne American Cemetery and Memorial — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Illinois →

Timeline

  1. November 13, 1892
    Born in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois
  2. June 6, 1918
    Act of valor — Bouresches, France
    Age 25. Dental Corps, attached to 6th Regiment, U.S. Marines Killed in action.
  3. Resting place
    Aisne-Marne Cemetery
    Belleau Aisne

Biography

Weedon Edward Osborne (November 13, 1892 – June 6, 1918) was a United States Navy officer and a recipient of America's highest military decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in World War I. He is one of only three dental officers to have received the medal, the others being Alexander Gordon Lyle and Ben L. Salomon.

From the Wikipedia article “Weedon Osborne”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

Further reading

Also honored for actions on June 6, 1918

CH Charles F. Hoffman Gunnery Sergeant · Marine Corps World War I · 1918 CH Charles F. Hoffman Gunnery Sergeant · Marine Corps World War I · 1918

More World War I recipients from Illinois

JK John Joseph Kelly Private · Marine Corps World War I · 1918 Jake Allex Corporal · Army World War I · 1918 JK John Joseph Kelly Private · Marine Corps World War I · 1918 Robert Guy Robinson Gunnery Sergeant · Marine Corps World War I · 1918 HJ Harold Irving Johnston Sergeant · Army World War I · 1918 Michael B. Ellis Sergeant · 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.