Burlington in Coffey County, Kansas — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Lieut. William Fitzsimons

The First To Fall

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., January 11, 2015

1. Lieut. William Fitzsimons Mural

Inscription. In Memory of
First Lieutenant
William T. Fitzsimons, M.D.
1889 - 1917

Born in Burlington on April 18, 1889, Dr. Fitzsimons spent his childhood here, then graduated from the University of Kansas School of Medicine in 1912.

Shortly after World War I broke out in 1914, he volunteered his services to the Allied cause and spent a year treating casualties in England and Belgium. When the United States officially entered the conflict, he returned to active duty with the Army Medical Reserve Corps.

Just a few weeks later - on September 7, 1917 - Dr. Fitzsimons was killed during a German air attack on his field hospital in France, making him the first American officer killed in action in World War I.

Dr. Fitzsimons was buried in France.

Topics. This memorial is listed in these topic lists: Science & Medicine • War, World I. A significant historical month for this entry is April 1929.

Location. 38° 12.337′ N, 95° 44.375′ W. Marker is in Burlington, Kansas, in Coffey County. Memorial is on 4th Street (U.S. 75), on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 409 Cross Street, Burlington KS 66839, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within one mile of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Marion Ellett "Most Easy" Budd (approx. 0.6 miles away); The Coffey County Republican

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(approx. 0.7 miles away); Burlington, Kansas (approx. 0.7 miles away); Coffey County Veterans Memorial Park (approx. ¾ mile away); 8 Elements of Kansas Exploring (approx. ¾ mile away); Coffey County, Kansas (approx. 0.8 miles away); Coffey County Fairgrounds (approx. 1.1 miles away); Coffey County Fair (approx. 1.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Burlington.

More about this marker. Mural is about 300 feet west of 4th Street.

Also see . . .
1. A Death in France, September 7, 1917. University of Kansas entry (Submitted on February 1, 2015, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)

2. Fitzsimons Army Medical Center. Wikipedia entry (Submitted on February 1, 2015, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., January 11, 2015

2. Lieut. William Fitzsimons Mural

Dr. William T. Fitzsimons (front left) with his military hospital unit in England, 1917 image. Click for full size.

via University of Kansas, 1917

3. Dr. William T. Fitzsimons (front left) with his military hospital unit in England, 1917

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., January 11, 2015

4. Lieut. William Fitzsimons Mural

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., January 11, 2015

5. Lieut. William Fitzsimons Mural

Credits. This page was last revised on December 7, 2021. It was originally submitted on February 1, 2015, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 640 times since then and 9 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on February 1, 2015, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. 3. submitted on January 19, 2021, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. 4, 5. submitted on February 1, 2015, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.