Wilbur E. Colyer

Wilbur E. Colyer (March 5, 1898 – October 10, 1918) was an American soldier serving in the U.S. Army during World War I who received the Medal of Honor for bravery.

Wilbur E. Colyer
Born(1898-03-05)March 5, 1898
Brooklyn, New York
DiedOctober 10, 1918(1918-10-10) (aged 20)
near Verdun, France
Place of burial
Cypress Hills National Cemetery, Brooklyn, New York
Allegiance United States of America
Service/branchUnited States Army
Years of service1917 - 1918
RankSergeant
UnitCompany A, 1st Engineer Regiment, 1st Infantry Division
Battles/warsWorld War I
AwardsMedal of Honor

Biography

Colyer was born March 5, 1898, in Brooklyn, New York and after enlisting in the Army in 1917[1] was sent to France to fight in World War I.[2] He died October 10, 1918 and is buried in Cypress Hills National Cemetery, Brooklyn, New York. His grave can be found in section 2, grave 8588.[3]

Medal of Honor citation
Detail of Colyer's gravestone at Cypress Hills National Cemetery

Rank and organization: Sergeant, U.S. Army, Company A, 1st Engineers, 1st Division. Place and date: Near Verdun, France, 9 October 1918. Entered service at: South Ozone Park, Long Island, N.Y. Birth: Brooklyn, N.Y. General Orders: War Department, General Orders No. 20 (January 30, 1919).

Citation:

Volunteering with 2 other soldiers to locate machinegun nests, Sgt. Colyer advanced on the hostile positions to a point where he was half surrounded by the nests, which were in ambush. He killed the gunner of one gun with a captured German grenade and then turned this gun on the other nests silencing all of them before he returned to his platoon. He was later killed in action.[2]

Remembrance

On October 9, 2013, the 1st Engineer Battalion hosted a "mud run," modeled after the popular Tough Mudder, that included ruck marching, an obstacle course, and a crawl through a muddy pit. The course was named the "SGT Wilbur E. Colyer Diehard Challenge" in memory of SGT Colyer.

Military awards

Colyer's military decorations and awards include:

1st row Medal of Honor World War I Victory Medal w/one silver service star to denote credit for the Montdidier-Noyon, Aisne-Marne, St. Mihiel, Meuse-Argonne and Defensive Sector battle clasps.
Unit Award French Fourragère - Authorized permanent wear based on two French Croix de Guerre with Palm unit citations awarded the 1st Engineer Battalion for Lorraine-Picardy and Aisne-Marne/Meuse-Argonne

See also

References
  1. Service Profile
  2. "Medal of Honor recipients". World War I. United States Army Center of Military History. June 8, 2009. Retrieved July 15, 2009.
  3. "Wilbur E. Colyer". Claim to Fame: Medal of Honor recipients. Find a Grave. Retrieved July 15, 2009.
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