Sergeant Henry Gunther, the Last Casualty of World War I Pictured - Gunther’s grave in east Ba

Sergeant Henry Gunther, the Last Casualty of World War I Pictured - Gunther’s grave in east Baltimore. On November 12, General Pershing’s order of the day restored him to the rank of sergeant. Eleven thousand men were killed, wounded, or missing in action on November 11, 1918. Allied generals wanted to take as much ground as possible before the cease-fire went into effect, or make sure their combat record remained spotless until the final minute. Therefore men continued to die. Private Henry N. Gunther was the last man to fall. His brigade attacked a ridge near the town of VIlle-devant-Chaumount that morning, the general in charge ordering there be “absolutely no let-up” until the armistice. German machine-gunners watched wide-eyed in disbelief as the Doughboys advanced. Some even beckoned for them to turn back. Although the rest of his platoon dropped for cover, Private Gunther continued forward, his bayonet fixed. He had lost his sergeant’s stripes for writing a letter home against the war, and perhaps his doomed charge was an attempt to eradicate that stain on his honor. A burst of machine-gun fire hit him in the left temple, killing him instantly. The time was 10:59 A.M.Henry Gunther, pointed out by the arrow on the bottom right. -- source link

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