USS Stockham (DD-683)

Fred William Stockham was born in Detroit, Mich., on 16 March 1881. He enlisted in the Marine Corps on 16 July 1903 and, over the next four years, served twice in the Philippines, from 26 September 1903 to 28 August 1905 and from 29 September 1906 to 13 January 1907, and did one tour of duty in China in the intervening period. Private Stockham was honorably discharged at New York City on 15 July 1907. Four years later, on 31 May 1912, he reenlisted in the Marine Corps. By the time he was again discharged, on 30 May 1916, he had risen to the rank of sergeant and had served most of his term ashore in Nicaragua. Sgt. Stockham saw combat during the engagement at Leon, Nicaragua, on 6 October 1915, a little over a month before his departure from that troubled Latin American nation. He was honorably discharged again on 30 May 1916, this time at Mare Island, Calif. However, within a week, he had returned to New York City, where on 7 June, he reenlisted.

By 8 February 1918, Sgt. Stockham was in France and heading for the trenches. Between that time and his death, he served in the Toulon sector, in the Aisne operation, and at Belleau Wood. During- the last named battle, Gy. Sgt. Stockham displayed the "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty" which later earned him the Medal of Honor by an Act of Congress. On the night of June 13 and 14, "during an intense enemy bombardment with high explosive and gas shells," Sergeant Stockham upon noticing that the gas mask of a wounded comrade was shot away, without hesitation, removed his own gas mask and insisted upon giving it to the wounded man, well knowing that the effects of the gas would be fatal to himself. Despite the fact that he was without the protection of a gas mask, he continued with undaunted courage and valor to direct and assist in the evacuation of the wounded in an area saturated with gas and swept by heavy artillery fire, until he himself collapsed from the effects of the gas." Gy. Sgt. Stockham died in France on 22 June 1918. Thanks to the efforts of his former comrades, one of whom undoubtedly was the man whose life his gas mask saved, Gy. Sgt. Stockham was belatedly and posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor by an Act of Congress on 21 December 1939, over 20 years after his sacrifice.

John Stockham was First Lieutenant in HMS Thunderer at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. In the absence of her captain, he assumed command of the ship during the battle and was subsequently promoted to captain for his actions.

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From the Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, compiled by the Naval History and Heritage Command (Stockham (DD-683)). A work of the United States Government, in the public domain.