Thomas Enright
Encyclopedia
Thomas Francis Enright was one of the first three American
soldier
s killed in action during World War I
.
Enright was born May 8, 1887 in Pittsburgh
, Pennsylvania
, the son of Irish
immigrants. He enlisted in the U.S. Army
in 1909.
He, along with Corporal James Bethel Gresham of Evansville, Indiana
, and Private Merle David Hay
of Glidden, Iowa
, all serving in Company F, 16th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division (“The Big Red One”), were the first Americans to die in combat during the First World War when on November 3, 1917, German troops trench raided
their position near the village of Bathelémont les Bauzemont in the Lorraine (region)
, east of Nancy.
Two days later, Enright, Gresham, and Hay were buried near where they had died. Alfalfa soon sprouted on their gravesites and their relatives harvested it, incorporating it into a family bread recipe. An inscription marked their graves: "Here lie the first soldiers of the illustrious Republic of the United States who fell on French soil for justice and liberty."
On July 16, 1921 Enright was reburied in Pittsburgh with military honors. That day began with his casket lying in state at Soldiers and Sailors National Military Museum and Memorial
located in the city's Oakland
section. It then was placed on a gun caisson drawn by six horses and taken to St. Paul Cathedral
for a memorial Mass
celebrated by Hugh Charles Boyle
, the Roman Catholic Bishop
of Pittsburgh.
From St. Paul's, a procession continued to St. Mary Cemetery
in the city's Lawrenceville
neighborhood. A wreath from General John J. Pershing
was laid upon his grave.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
soldier
Soldier
A soldier is a member of the land component of national armed forces; whereas a soldier hired for service in a foreign army would be termed a mercenary...
s killed in action during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
.
Enright was born May 8, 1887 in Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, the son of Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
immigrants. He enlisted in the U.S. Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
in 1909.
He, along with Corporal James Bethel Gresham of Evansville, Indiana
Evansville, Indiana
Evansville is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of Indiana and the largest city in Southern Indiana. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 117,429. It is the county seat of Vanderburgh County and the regional hub for both Southwestern Indiana and the...
, and Private Merle David Hay
Merle Hay
Merle David Hay was the first Iowa serviceman and perhaps the first American serviceman to die in World War I, along with Corporal James Bethel Gresham of Evansville, Indiana and Thomas Enright of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania....
of Glidden, Iowa
Glidden, Iowa
Glidden is a town in Carroll County, Iowa, United States. The population was 1,253 at the 2000 census.The town is named in honor of Joseph Farwell Glidden of DeKalb, Illinois, who invented barbed wire in 1873.-Geography:...
, all serving in Company F, 16th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division (“The Big Red One”), were the first Americans to die in combat during the First World War when on November 3, 1917, German troops trench raided
Trench raiding
Trench raiding was a feature of trench warfare which developed during World War I. It was the practice of making small scale surprise attacks on enemy position. Raids were made by both sides in the conflict and always took place at night for reasons of stealth...
their position near the village of Bathelémont les Bauzemont in the Lorraine (region)
Lorraine (région)
Lorraine is one of the 27 régions of France. The administrative region has two cities of equal importance, Metz and Nancy. Metz is considered to be the official capital since that is where the regional parliament is situated...
, east of Nancy.
Two days later, Enright, Gresham, and Hay were buried near where they had died. Alfalfa soon sprouted on their gravesites and their relatives harvested it, incorporating it into a family bread recipe. An inscription marked their graves: "Here lie the first soldiers of the illustrious Republic of the United States who fell on French soil for justice and liberty."
On July 16, 1921 Enright was reburied in Pittsburgh with military honors. That day began with his casket lying in state at Soldiers and Sailors National Military Museum and Memorial
Soldiers and Sailors National Military Museum and Memorial
Soldiers and Sailors National Military Museum and Memorial is a National Register of Historic Places landmark in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States...
located in the city's Oakland
Oakland (Pittsburgh)
Oakland is the academic, cultural, and healthcare center of Pittsburgh and is Pennsylvania's third largest "Downtown". Only Center City Philadelphia and Downtown Pittsburgh can claim more economic and social activity than Oakland...
section. It then was placed on a gun caisson drawn by six horses and taken to St. Paul Cathedral
Cathedral of Saint Paul in Pittsburgh
The Cathedral of Saint Paul is the mother church of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States...
for a memorial Mass
Mass (liturgy)
"Mass" is one of the names by which the sacrament of the Eucharist is called in the Roman Catholic Church: others are "Eucharist", the "Lord's Supper", the "Breaking of Bread", the "Eucharistic assembly ", the "memorial of the Lord's Passion and Resurrection", the "Holy Sacrifice", the "Holy and...
celebrated by Hugh Charles Boyle
Hugh Charles Boyle
Hugh Charles Boyle was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Pittsburgh from 1921 until his death in 1950.-Biography:...
, the Roman Catholic Bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
of Pittsburgh.
From St. Paul's, a procession continued to St. Mary Cemetery
St. Mary Cemetery, Pittsburgh
St. Mary Cemetery is a Roman Catholic burial ground located at 45th and Penn Avenues in the Lawrenceville neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. It is adjacent to the city's slightly older and much larger Allegheny Cemetery....
in the city's Lawrenceville
Lawrenceville (Pittsburgh)
Lawrenceville is one of the largest neighborhoods in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It is located northeast of downtown, and like many of Pittsburgh's riverfront neighborhoods, it has an industrial past. Lawrenceville is bordered by the Allegheny River, Polish Hill, Bloomfield, the Strip District and...
neighborhood. A wreath from General John J. Pershing
John J. Pershing
John Joseph "Black Jack" Pershing, GCB , was a general officer in the United States Army who led the American Expeditionary Forces in World War I...
was laid upon his grave.