Derrick Jackson; boy scout rescues Medal of Honor hero from obscurity

Parachutecutie sends us a link to the story about Derrick Jackson, a boy scout in Mason County, West Virginia who had seen on a television program the degraded state of a cemetery near his home that was the final resting place of World War One hero, Chester Howard West. West was a First Sergeant in Company D, 363d Infantry, 91st Division at Bois-de-Cheppy, France on September 26, 1918 when he earned his Medal of Honor;

While making his way through a thick fog with his automatic rifle section, his advance was halted by direct and unusual machinegun fire from 2 guns. Without aid, he at once dashed through the fire and, attacking the nest, killed 2 of the gunners, 1 of whom was an officer. This prompt and decisive hand-to-hand encounter on his part enabled his company to advance farther without the loss of a man.

West survived the war only to be murdered in his home by his landlord while West was working as a tenant farmer. He was buried in his wife’s family plot. Through the years, the cemetery became overgrown and virtually forgotten by locals. Until Derrick Johnson decided to make West’s recovery a Boy Scout project.

You should read the whole story of the recovery effort at the link above.

Category: Historical