James Fuquay

James Fuquay’s Personal Narrative was derived from information found in public records, military personnel files, and local/state historical association materials. Please note that the Robb Centre never fully closes the book on our servicemembers; as new information becomes available, narratives will be updated to appropriately represent the life story of each veteran.

Please contact the Robb Centre for further clarification or questions regarding content or materials.

Military Honor(s):

Distinguished Service Cross

Citation: The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Private James Fuquay (ASN: 1402857), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company H, 370th Infantry Regiment, 93d Division, A.E.F., at Guillimet Farm, France, 28 September 1918. When Private Fuquay, an automatic rifleman, was stationed at a particularly dangerous location, his rifle became jammed, whereupon he took it apart, remedied the trouble, and again put it into operation. While doing this he was wounded in the left arm, but refused first-aid, continuing to serve his piece and direct fire on the enemy positions until completely exhausted from loss of blood.

Donate

Life & Service

  • Birth: 18 September 1892, Mounds, IL, United States
  • Place of Residence: Chicago, IL, United States
  • Race/Ethnicity: African American
  • Death: 25 October 1925 Chicago, IL, United States
  • Branch: Army
  • Military Rank: Private
  • Company: [H]
  • Infantry Regiment: 370th
  • Division: 93rd
Personal Narrative
Early Life (Pre-War): Includes general parent information, sibling information, education Toggle Accordion

James Fuquay was born on 18 September 1893 to Mattie Sessums (1875-?) in Mounds, Illinois, his father’s name is currently unknown; he had two siblings, Effie (1895-1972) and Alma (1899-?). Mattie Sessums and her children lived with her brother, David Sessums (1860-?) in the early 1900s in Beat 3, Prentiss County, Mississippi. In 1902, Mattie Sessums married Samuel Fuquay (1867-?); the children took Fuquay’s surname, and settled on farmland in Prentiss County (unsure of location of farm) where the couple would have one child, Hattie (1924-?). Fuquay lived in Chicago (3820 Forest Ave) between 1910-1917, working as a teamster.

In a memorandum from the Federal Board for Vocational Education, the following was noted, “Never attended school. Can read a little and write some words. Practically illiterate.”

Service: Includes a summary of transfers, rank change(s), training, enlistment, and discharge locations Toggle Accordion

Fuquay enlisted in the Illinois National Guard on 3 August 1917, serving in Co. H, 8th Infantry, until its mobilization, when it became Co. H, 370th Infantry Regiment, 93rd Division, AEF. Then-Corporal Fuquay and his company left Newport News, Virginia aboard the U.S. Army Transport Ship President Grant on 7 April 1918. Cpl Fuquay received the Distinguished Service Cross for his actions at Guillimet Farm, France on 28 September;

“The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Private James Fuquay (ASN: 1402857), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company H, 370th Infantry Regiment, 93d Division, A.E.F., at Guillimet Farm, France, 28 September 1918. When Private Fuquay, an automatic rifleman, was stationed at a particularly dangerous location, his rifle became jammed, whereupon he took it apart, remedied the trouble, and again put it into operation. While doing this he was wounded in the left arm, but refused first-aid, continuing to serve his piece and direct fire on the enemy positions until completely exhausted from loss of blood.”

“Fuquay was wounded Sept. 28, 1918 at Soissons by machine gun bullet in the back; was taken to a French hospital, where wound was dressed and operated at a casualty clearing station; from there he was sent to Savaney, Base Hospital #8. Wound has never healed and is now rather painful…Orthopedic examination as follows; There is a 4” healed scar, with a slight tendency toward a keloid growth, over the fourth lumbar spine. The area in the middle of the scar is thin and unhealthy; there is a slight sinus rimmed with granulation tissue at this spot”.

“Man says he was operated on January 11, 1920 for the removal of these fragments. There is a vertical scar from the operation and some considerable thickening of the surrounding portions, partly to the left side of the scar…He bends forward quite freely and backward not quite normally”

He was rated at Temporary Partial 15% Disability from discharge to 5 December 1919; Temporary Total from 5 December to 6 February 1920; Temporary Partial 10% from 6 February-on. It is unknown when Fuquay returned to the United States; he was Honorably Discharged on 11 January 1919 at Camp Dodge, Iowa.

Later Life (Post-War): Includes post-war education, occupation, marriage(s) and/or children, location and date of death Toggle Accordion

Upon his return home, Fuquay married Julia Stewart (1895-?). Fuquay struggled with the resulting medical issues from his wounds in France, and worked in a variety of vocations in order to find one that did not worsen his physical condition. Little is known of his life between 1919-1925, other than that he and his wife lived at 3601 Wabash Ave., Chicago, Illinois at the time of his death on 25 October 1925 from “…gunshot wound of the chest while in a duel”. Fuquay is buried in Mt. Glenwood Cemetery in Chicago, Illinois.