Albert E Baesel

Albert was born on the 21st of March, 1890, in Berea, Ohio, where he grew up with his four sisters and two brothers. At the age of 22, he enlisted in the Ohio National Guard and when he deployed to Europe in support of the Great War, he left the 5th Infantry as a Corporal and was then commissioned as a Second Lieutenant with the 148th Infantry Regiment, 37th Division. His actions on the 27th of September, 1918, earned him the Medal of Honor. The 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 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.

Albert was 28 years old at the time of his death and his body was initially buried in France. During a homecoming celebration in his home town, a new American Legion was named in his honor and his wife, Lydia, received his Medal of Honor on the 23rd of December, 1922. Four years later, Albert Edward Baesel was returned to the States and is buried in the Woodvale Cemetery in Middleburg Heights, Ohio: Section 7, Lot 31-6.