Baucom, Wirt L.

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Sergeant Wirt L. Baucom

U.S. Marine Corps

Wirt Baucom was born on October 3, 1894 to Dr. J. B. Baucom and Mrs. E. E. Baucom at Italy, Ellis County, Texas.

Wirt enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps on May 6, 1917 at Dallas, Texas for the duration of the national emergency, and took basic training at Parris Island, South Carolina. His occupation was farming. He was five-feet, nine and one-half inches in height. His eyes were blue, his hair light brown. He had ruddy complexion.

Sergeant Baucom served with the Supply Company, 5th Marine Regiment during the time his organization was twice cited in the French Orders of the Army, and authorized to wear the Fourragere, which was braided and knotted cords of the green and red colors of the French Croix de Guerre worn as part of the uniform on the left shoulder.

The 5th Marine Regiment was known as the "Fighting Fifth" on battlefields in western Europe. On July 18, 1918 in the middle of the night, and over terrain that was unknown and difficult to negotiate, Wirt and 5th Marines advanced in open order for two days, and did not allow the hardships and difficulties of replenishing food and water to stop them. With remarkable determination, they pushed the Germans back eleven kilometers, and captured 2,700 prisoners, 12 cannons and several hundred machineguns.

Sergeant Baucom was honorably discharged from the U.S. Marine Corps at Marine Base, Quantico, Virginia on July 14, 1919.

Biography of Byrne Virchow Baucom

The picture and bio information are courtesy of Mrs. Jenny Kellum, Red Oak, Texas.

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