Albert E. Baesel

Albert E. Baesel. . , Albert E. Baesel, World War I Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient Lt. Baesel was one of only 3 soldiers from Ohio to be awarded our nation's highest military award for bravery in World War I., March 21, 1890, Berea, Ohio - Sept. 27, 1918, France. The son of Henry and Caroline Baesel, 2nd Lt. Albert E. Baesel was serving with the 148th Infantry Regiment, 37th Division of the United States Army when he was killed while attempting to rescue Cpl. Sterling S. Ryan near Ivoiry, France, during the second day of the Meuse-Argonne Offensive, the final major battle of World War I. His citation reads: "Upon hearing that a squad leader of his platoon had been severely wounded while attempting to capture an enemy machine gun nest about 200 yards in advance of the assault line and somewhat to the right, 2d Lt. Baesel requested permission to go to the rescue of the wounded corporal. After thrice repeating his request and permission having been reluctantly given, due to the heavy artillery, rifle, and machine gun fire, and heavy deluge of gas in which the company was under at the time, accompanied by a volunteer, he worked his way forward, and reaching the wounded man, placed him upon his shoulders and was instantly killed by enemy fire." Both Baesel and Ryan were killed., The new American Legion Post 91 was named in Baesel's honor at a celebration held in Berea on July 4, 1919. His posthumously-awarded Congressional Medal of Honor was presented to his widow, Lydia Cole Baesel, Dec. 23, 1922. Hastily buried in France, Baesel's remains were returned to the U.S. and reinterred in Woodvale Cemetery, Middleburg Heights, Ohio, on April 11, 1926., The City of Berea, Ohio, dedicates this memorial to one of its greatest native sons with great recognition and appreciation for so bravely serving in the United States Armed Forces., Your service and supreme sacrifice will never be forgotten.,

"A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself." , ~Joseph Campbell