Allen Melancthon Sumner

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Allen Melancthon Sumner

Allen M. Sumner (born October 1, 1882 in Boston ; died July 19, 1918 near Soissons, France ) was an officer in the United States Marine Corps .

biography

Sumner originally went to Harvard University in Boston . He left after getting a place at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland . He then pursued a military career and was made a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps on March 17, 1907. He was stationed at the Naval Academy until 1909 when he was ordered to Cuba with the 1st Provisional Regiment of Marines . Before retiring in January 1914, he served briefly on the auxiliary cruiser USS Prairie .

In April 1917, Sumner was ordered back as a result of the outbreak of war and resumed active service on July 5, 1917. From August 1917 he was part of the 81st Company of the 1st Machine Gun Battalion . On December 14, 1917, he drove with his unit on the USS DeKalb (the former Prince Eitel Friedrich ) from New York to Europe, where he arrived in Saint-Nazaire on New Year's Eve 1917 . After training in the Vosges , he reached the front near Verdun in March 1918. At this point he held the rank of captain . Until his death on July 19, 1918, he took part in several combat operations. It is unclear whether Sumner was killed in an artillery shell or an air strike.

Sumner received the Croix de guerre and three Silver Stars for his actions .

Namesake

Two ships were named after Allen M. Sumner (two more after Thomas Sumner ). Including the USS Sumner (DD-333) and the USS Allen M. Sumner . The latter was the type ship and thus gave its name to the Allen M. Sumner class of 58 destroyers.

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Sumner, Allen Melancthon
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Sumner, Allen M.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Officer in the United States Marine Corps
DATE OF BIRTH October 1, 1882
PLACE OF BIRTH Boston
DATE OF DEATH July 19, 1918
Place of death near Soissons, France