Deming Bronson
Deming was born on the 8th of July, 1894 in Rhinelander, Wisconsin and after high school, he attended the University of Washington. There he played football and studied forestry, graduating in 1916, before joining the US Army in Seattle. Deming deployed to Europe in support of the Great War and it was his actions in France that would earn him the Medal of Honor. The citation reads:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action with the enemy. On the morning of 26 September, during the advance of the 364th Infantry, 1st Lt. Bronson was struck by an exploding enemy hand grenade, receiving deep cuts on his face and back of his head. He nevertheless participated in the action which resulted in the capture of an enemy dugout from which a great number of prisoners were taken. This was effected with difficulty and under extremely hazardous conditions because it was necessary to advance without the advantage of cover and, from an exposed position, throw hand grenades and phosphorous bombs to compel the enemy to surrender. On the afternoon of the same day he was painfully wounded in the left arm by an enemy rifle bullet, and after receiving first-aid treatment he was directed to the rear. Disregarding these instructions, 1st Lt. Bronson remained on duty with his company through the night although suffering from severe pain and shock. On the morning of the 27 September, his regiment resumed its attack, the object being the village of Eclisfontaine. Company H, to which 1st Lt. Bronson was assigned, was left in support of the attacking line, Company E being in the line. He gallantly joined that company in spite of his wounds and engaged with it in the capture of the village. After the capture he remained with Company E and participated with it in the capture of an enemy machine gun, he himself killing the enemy gunner. Shortly after this encounter the company was compelled to retire due to the heavy enemy artillery barrage. During this retirement 1st Lt. Bronson, who was the last man to leave the advanced position, was again wounded in both arms by an enemy high-explosive shell. He was then assisted to cover by another officer who applied first aid. Although bleeding profusely and faint from loss of blood, 1st Lt. Bronson remained with the survivors of the company throughout the night of the second day, refusing to go to the rear for treatment. His conspicuous gallantry and spirit of self-sacrifice were a source of great inspiration to the members of the entire command.
Deming was eventually brought to the rear for treatment of the wounds to his face, back of the head, and both arms, and was sent back to the States to recover. He married Dorothy in 1925 and four years later, on the 19th of November, 1929, received the Medal of Honor from President Hoover. Deming worked in Ohio and New Jersey as an executive for a paint company before working in the family lumber business in Oregon.
If you remember back to episode 189 of this podcast, I told the story of Gregory Boyington and that he was honored on a memorial at the University of Washington. There was some controversy around the memorial as it was originally supposed to be a memorial to just him but the student senate had defeated this resolution stating that the University already had many monuments to “rich, white men”, even though Boyington had partial Sioux ancestry and was not rich. It was also questioned if the University should memorialize a person who killed others and “didn't believe a member of the Marine Corps was an example of the sort of person [the University of Washington] wanted to produce”. I bring this up because ultimately, the memorial was built and privately funded and it was decided to honor all Medal of Honor recipients that had attended the University. Deming’s name appears on this memorial with the inscription, “Ordinary individuals facing extraordinary circumstances with courage and selflessness answer the call and change the course of destiny.”
Deming Bronson died on the 29th of May, 1957 at the age of 62 in Roseburg, Oregon and is buried with his wife in Arlington National Cemetery: Section 30, Grave 500-2.
