Longmeadow’s Medal of Honor Recipient: Cpl. Edward G. Wilkin

Col. Wilkin’s Medal of Honor

Collection of the Longmeadow Historical Society

As we close out a week that began for many with Memorial Day ceremonies, let us pause and remember Longmeadow Medal of Honor recipient, Corporal Edward G. Wilkin (1917-1945). Wilkin Drive and Edward Circle, located near the high school between Grassy Gutter Road and Williams Street, were named in his honor. Wilkin himself resided at 45 Bellevue Avenue.

Wilkin Drive and Edward Circle, Longmeadow

As a 27-year-old Corporal in the U.S. Army, Company C, 157th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Division, Cpl. Wilkin was awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions during World War II.

Edward Wilkin was born in Burlington Vermont on March 25, 1917. The family moved to Springfield, MA after 1920 and Edward eventually resided on Bellevue Avenue in Longmeadow. He married Hazel Brayton in 1938 and had a son, Robert Jesse, in 1941. Edward worked for Adaskin Furniture and Pratt and Whitney before entering the Army in December 1943.

Wilkin earned the Combat Infantry Badge for exemplary action against the enemy on January 18, 1945. For his actions on March 18 1945 on the Siegfried Line in Germany, Corporal Wilkin was awarded the Medal of Honor. This medal is the highest and most prestigious military honor given for “Intrepidity. Above and beyond the call of duty. Risk of life. Selflessness. Exemplary action. Unwavering devotion. Conspicuous gallantry. Extraordinary heroism”

The citation from the U.S. War Department tells the story of his contribution to the battle. It reads::

“Corporal Edward G. Wilkin, Company C, 157th Infantry, spearheaded his unit's assault on the Siegfried Line in Germany on March 18, 1945. Heavy fire from enemy riflemen and camouflaged pillboxes had pinned down his comrades when he moved forward on his own initiative to reconnoiter a route of advance.

He cleared the way into an area studded with pillboxes, where he repeatedly stood up and walked into vicious enemy fire, storming one fortification after another with automatic rifle fire and grenades, killing enemy troops, taking prisoners as the enemy defense became confused, and encouraging his comrades by his heroic example.

When halted by heavy barbed wire entanglements he secured bangalore torpedoes and blasted a path towards still more pillboxes, all the time braving bursting grenades and mortar shells and direct rifle and automatic weapons fire. He engaged in fierce fire fights, standing in the open while his adversaries fought from the protection of concrete emplacements, and on one occasion pursued enemy soldiers across an open field and through interlocking trenches, disregarding the crossfire from two pillboxes until he had penetrated the formidable line 200 yards in advance of any American element.

That night, although terribly fatigued, he refused to rest and insisted on distributing rations and supplies to his comrades. Hearing that a nearby company was suffering heavy casualties, he secured permission to guide litter bearers and assist them in evacuating the wounded. All that night he remained in the battle area on his mercy missions, and for the following two days he continued to remove casualties, venturing into enemy-held territory, scorning cover and braving devastating mortar and artillery bombardments.

In three days he neutralized and captured six pillboxes single-handedly, killed at least nine Germans, wounded 13, took 13 prisoners, aided in the capture of 14 others, and saved many American lives by his fearless performance as a litter bearer. Through his superb fighting skill, dauntless courage and gallant, inspiring actions, corporal Wilkin contributed in large measure to his company‘s success and cracking the Siegfried Line.”

Unfortunately, Corporal Wilkin was killed by a German sniper on April 18, 1945. The war in Europe ended on May 8, 1945. Nearly six hundred Longmeadow men and women served in the armed forces during World War II. For actions during World War II, 472 United States military personnel received the Medal of Honor. Twenty-two Medals of Honor were awarded to men connected to Massachusetts: thirteen serving in the Army, seven in the Marine Corps, and two in the Navy.

The Medal of Honor was presented to Corporal Wilkin’s son posthumously in January 1946.

Springfield Republican January 14, 1946

General Omar Bradley at reinterment ceremony-Boston Herald May 31, 1948

Today, Cpl. Edward G. Wilkin is buried in Longmeadow Cemetery.

The medal is currently in the possession of the Longmeadow Historical Society. This is an incredible treasure honoring a true Longmeadow hero.

-Contributed by Lenny Shaker, Longmeadow Historical Society Board Member

Originally published June 2, 2022

Memorial Day

This coming Monday, May 30th, is Memorial Day. Although the exact origin of the holiday is unclear, it was widely celebrated beginning May 30th, 1868, in honor of the ultimate sacrifice of Civil War soldiers. General John A. Logan, Commander-in-Chief of the G. A. R. (Grand Army of the Republic) issued the proclamation declaring the first Decoration Day, as it was originally named. This author remembers visiting the graves of relatives with red, white, and blue flowers every Decoration Day. Gradually the commemoration encompassed military personnel from other conflicts .It became a Federal Holiday in 1971, and was celebrated on the last Monday in May. It is fitting that this year the 154th anniversary of the first Decoration Day falls on the traditional May 30th.

Longmeadow honors many soldiers from conflicts going back to the Colonial Wars. Here are a few of their stories:

Lt. Nathaniel Burt, 1711-1755, Longmeadow Cemetery

Lieutenant Nathaniel Burt (1711-1755) was killed in the "Bloody Morning Scout" battle of September 8, 1755, during the French and Indian Wars. His wife Sarah, and their daughter, also named Sarah wrote a letter to Nathaniel, addressed "To Lt. Nathaniel Burt, In the Army Marching Against Crown Point." The letter arrived 3 days after his death. The letter, full of newsy items from home, is in the collections of the Longmeadow Historical Society.

Also in the archives is an anonymous elegy written about Burt "Elogy On the death of Mr. Nathaniel Burt, Deacon of the Church of Christ at Longmeadow, and Lieutenant in his Majesty's service; who was killed in the memorable battle at Lake George, Sept. 8, 1755, in the 45th year of his age." It describes the battle, and the way the news was received back in Longmeadow "...But yet no certain tidings we could hear, which held us in suspence, 'twixt hope and fear Until a Reverend letter pass'd the plain with the sad mournful news--Brave Burt is slain."

Moving to the American Civil War, the Coomes family gave up 2 sons to the cause. Elias Coomes (1835-1862) was killed at the Battle of Fair Oaks, VA on May 31, 1862. His older brother James Madison Coomes (1823-1864) died as too many soldiers did in the Civil War, at Andersonville Prison, on May 4, 1864.

James Madison Coomes

Elias Coomes

Both were laid to rest in the Longmeadow Cemetery. Their portraits are in the collections of the Historical Society, as is a "soldier's pocket bible" inscribed with James' name.

To learn more about other soldiers from Longmeadow, we encourage you to visit the Memorial on the town green, and the Longmeadow Cemetery. Look for the markers for the Colonial Wars, the SAR markers for the Revolutionary War, and the many flags flying in the breeze. We salute you all.

Contributed by Betsy McKee, Longmeadow Historical Society Board Member.

Originally published May 26, 2022

Say Their Names

Anyone who knows and loves the soundtrack from the musical Hamilton knows how haunting the final verse of the final song is, “who lives, who dies, who tells your story?” In preparation for our event on May 22 with First Church, ”Say Their Names: Honoring the Lives of the Enslaved of Longmeadow, MA,” I keep hearing the echoes of that idea in my head. Who tells your story when you have no voice and no power? As I sit down to write the narratives and bring together all of the research and thinking and searching we have done over the past few years to bring forward these hidden voices I feel compelled to get it right.

For me, this journey began with the story of a girl named Susannah (Susan) Freedom, who died in 1803. That story is linked below. Yesterday, while driving my daughter to an appointment in Springfield, I noticed that the Springfield Cemetery, where Susan Freedom is buried, was right in front of me. I had never seen her gravesite in person. I had an idea of where she might be so, after I dropped my daughter off, I went back, driving through the open gate on Pine Street. And there she was - along the fence line of fairly busy Springfield street. I was struck by how her headstone was set off on its own among neat rows of mostly 18th-century headstones like hers. While the Hitchcocks and the Peases and the Smiths and the Blisses all stood together as family units, there was only one Freedom. So she stood apart.

Image courtesy of Betsy McKee

Susannah Freedom was born just as the practice of slavery in Massachusetts had ended. She almost definitely had been the child of people who had lived as slaves, but chosen their own last name when freedom came. Stopping by to see this memorial to a life lived was the last bit of inspiration I needed to finish up the work for this weekend’s event. We hope you will join us at 12 pm at the First Church of Christ at 793 Longmeadow Street to hear their stories.

Contributed by Melissa M. Cybulski, Longmeadow Historical Society Board Member

Originally published May 19, 2022