Researched and compiled by Edward W. Hudson, grandnephew of Wesley.

• Service Number: 1975567
• Unit:  Sergeant, U.S. Army. Assigned to Company L, 3rd Battalion, 132nd Infantry, 66th Brigade, 33rd Division
• Cause of Death: Killed in action by shellfire during during the Battle of Bois de Fays
• Date of Death: 11 Oct 1918 (three letters from commanding officers)
• Remains:  Buried in a battlefield grave in Bois de Fays, 13 Oct 1918; disinterred 26 Apr 1919 and reburied at Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery #1232 (Grave# 17, Sec 31, Plot 1). Repatriated 23 July 1921 and repatriated to Paragould, Arkansas by his father (I have his Army burial records)
• Buried: Linwood Cemetery, Paragould 

Cited for gallantry in action by General Pershing and General Bell. The Silver Star Medal is the United States’ third highest award exclusively for combat valor. The Silver Star was not established as an individual medal until July 19, 1932. At that time, veterans of World War I who had been cited for “gallantry in action” and awarded the “Citation Star” were, based upon specific criteria, authorized to request issuance of the Silver Star Medal in lieu of the earlier ribbon device.

Silver Star Medal	Purple Heart Medal	WWI Victory Medal with battle Clasps	Sharpshooter insignia

Born 26 Jan 1893 in Greene County, AR to John Lindsay and Mary Frances (Osborne) Foster. John and Mollie (nickname) had eleven children total, six who died at childbirth or before adulthood. Wesley’s father and sister Amanda Hartwick are buried in the same location at Linwood Cemetery.

Wesley enlisted in the U.S. Army in 25 April of 1914 and while stationed in the Panama Canal Zone with the 10th Infantry, he participated in several U.S. Military operations overseas before WWI. He was a professional soldier when America declared war on Germany in April 1917. He helped train the “citizen draftees” in two units before being shipped to France on the USS Mt. Vernon out of Hoboken, N.J., on 16 May 1918.
                                                                                 
The 33rd Division saw action with British Empire Forces in Northern France and with the AEF (American Expeditionary Forces) in Northeast France. Wesley participated in several minor actions, including night patrols in No Man’s Land (I have his letters). He was gassed while fighting with British and Australians in the Battle of Amiens (Gressaire Wood). He returned to his unit and saw action in two more battles during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive, including when the 3rd Battalion was called upon to support the 4th Division at the Battle of Bois de Fays, which had suffered weeks of “unremitting hell.” It was in this battle Wesley was killed. Major-General George Bell Jr., commander of the 33rd Division, cited Sgt. Wesley Foster for gallantry and wrote a letter to his father on 30 March 1919 to express his “deepest and heartfelt sympathy.” His company commander, Captain Charles E. Wise wrote two letters to the family explaining the circumstances of his death. He was greatly esteemed by the men in his company. 

As with Elbert Dixon and Ranzie Adams, this citation qualifies Wesley Foster, posthumously, to be awarded the Silver Star. Having been killed in action, he can also receive a Purple Heart. In addition, he is also eligible for the WWI Victory Medal with bars of the offensives in which he was engaged.