On May 13, Naperville Mayor Scott Wehrli hosted a meeting for members of the Naperville Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3873 that included Christopher Preacher, a retired Navy Chief who serves in Congressman Bill Foster’s Office.
The purpose of the meeting—nearly 107 years to the day after the heroic actions of 1st Lt. Oliver Judd Kendall and following nearly three decades of dedicated research—was for members of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3873, the Judd Kendall Post, to respectfully request Congressman Bill Foster (D-IL 11) submit their Medal of Honor recommendation for Lt. Kendall to the Secretary of the Army.
“Many of our members are combat veterans who hold the Medal of Honor in the highest regard. We do not make this request lightly,” said Staci Boyer, Commander of the VFW Post 3873. “We believe—with absolute proof—that Lt. Kendall’s actions meet the highest standard of ‘above and beyond the call of duty.’”
This journey began in 1997, with a newspaper article from 1921 that hailed Lt. Kendall as the Nathan Hale of World War I. Nearly 30 years of extensive research has since verified the truth and magnitude of his sacrifice. The story is complex—and now complete.
A visit to the Army website, www.army.mil/medalofhonor/process.html, provides an outline of the Army Medal of Honor recommendation process and Chain of Command. “Because of the need for accuracy the recommendation process can take in excess of 18 months with intense scrutiny every step of the way,” the site notes.
Summary of Events Tell the Lt. Kendall Story
“In the days leading up to the first American offensive of World War I, Lt. Kendall led a work party to prepare forward jump-off trenches. When an artillery barrage scattered his men, he rallied those who remained and pressed forward to complete the mission. At some point, unsure of their exact position, Lt. Kendall advanced alone to verify their location—and was never seen alive again.
“We now know, through verified documentation, that Lt. Kendall was captured alive by German forces. He was tortured—his teeth either knocked out or extracted, one by one—and ultimately executed, his throat cut by his captors. German intelligence records confirmed an American officer was captured that day. Lt. Kendall was the only officer missing in action from any unit involved in that sector.
“After the war, his body was discovered in a marked grave at what had been a German regimental headquarters. Critically, post-battle U.S. intelligence confirmed that German forces gained no information regarding the impending American offensive. Had they known, they would have had three days to reinforce their lines. They did not. The offensive succeeded.
“The American Army was in a must win situation. If this offensive did not succeed in taking the Village of Cantigny, they very well could have been broken down as replacement troops under the French and English Army’s command. Lt. Kendall’s silence, under unimaginable duress, protected the lives of thousands of American soldiers and ensured the success of America’s first major battle of the war. His courage and unbreakable resolve preserved the strength and unity of the American Expeditionary Force at a pivotal moment.
“His actions reflect the highest traditions of military service and bring lasting honor to himself and the United States Army.”
As General John J. Pershing once said, “We cannot allow time to dim the quality of their deeds.”
Following the stated procedure to request that Congressman Foster submit the award recommendation, Commander Boyer respectfully asked that 1st Lt. Oliver Julian Kendall be awarded the Medal of Honor.
