No. 5678. Class of (April) 1917. During an attack in the Argonne, Captain Sackett was struck by several machine gun bullets while leading his men to the assault. He died a few minutes later, October 14, 1918, at Cunel, France. Age 26 years.
George Wilbur Sackett was born in Illinois, December 4, 1891. He entered the Military Academy with the Class of 1917 and was graduated with that class on April 20, 1917, six weeks early due to the war. He elected to serve with the Infantry and in June was assigned to the 11th Infantry, then stationed at Camp Oglethorpe.
He sailed for France in April of 1918 in command of Co. F.
During an attack in the Argonne, Captain Sackett was struck by several machine gun bullets while leading his men to the assault. He died a few minutes later.
Respected by his classmates at the Academy, and by the officers
and men with whom he served in France, Sackett had that rare quality of inspiring confidence in all his associates. He will always be remembered by us of the Class of 1917 as generous, chivalrous and courageous; in every sense of the word an officer and a gentleman.
It is hard to believe that never again can George enliven our class gatherings. We will miss that cheerful smile which chased care in the days of “tenths,” demerits, and other worries. We wish it could have remained with us in this time of greater responsibility. But who can deny that his was the greatest privilege of all? He fell on the field of battle facing the common foe of civilization. Yet it is only an infinitessimal fraction of him that has gone. The dauntless, optimistic spirit that we loved and admired, the spirit that animated
his great sacrifice, lives on. George is still one of us.
A. P. POPE.
Burial
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=55966896
Sackett Family – Information below taken from –
http://www.sackettfamily.info/newsilchicago.htm Chicago Daily Tribune, 18 July 1917
“Marriages. / Lieut. George Wilbur Sackett, nephew of Mrs. Grace Wilbur Trout of Oak Park, will be married today to Miss Antoinette Cooper, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William H. Cooper of New Rochelle, N.Y. The wedding ceremony will be performed in Chattanooga, Tenn., as Lieut. Sackett, a West Pointer of the class of 1917, is now stationed nearby in Chickamauga Park, Ga., in command of a detail of United States troops. Mrs. Trout and her son, Thomas, and cousin, Miss Caroline B. Wilbur, left yesterday to attend the wedding.” Chicago Daily Tribune, 22 July 1917 “Weddings. / Lieut. George Wilbur Sackett, nephew of Mrs. Grace Wilbur Trout of Oak Park, was married on Wednesday to Miss Antoinette Cooper, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William H. Cooper of New Rochelle, N.Y. The wedding ceremony was performed in Chattanooga, Tenn., as Lieut. Sackett is now stationed in Chickamauga Park, Ga.”
Bio Register
http://books.google.com/books?id=SSHcAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA1891&lpg=PA1891&dq=George+Wilbur+Sackett&source=bl&ots=ybYvRY6IgR&sig=H7mvRYzWRQUK4LCJW4w6qjKtzMw&hl=en&sa=X&ei=4kVrUJC8B43D0AGpx4GoAw&ved=0CCYQ6AEwAjgK#v=onepage&q=George%20Wilbur%20Sackett&f=false
Register of Officers & Cadets 1913
http://books.google.com/books?id=H7U3AQAAIAAJ&pg=RA4-PA67&lpg=RA4-PA67&dq=George+Wilbur+Sackett&source=bl&ots=Ykhw-r
For What They Gave on Saturday Afternoon 