Cornelius W. Wickersham

Wickersham enlisted the Squadron A of New York Cavalry in 1915 and participated as Private in the guarding of the Mexican border. Upon the American entry into World War I in April 1917, he was transferred to 12th New York Infantry Regiment and commissioned first lieutenant. Wickersham quickly rose to the rank of Captain and later was transferred to the headquarters of 27th Infantry Division under Major general John F. O'Ryan. The Division was concentrated at Camp Wadsworth, near Spartanburg, South Carolina, for intensive training and preparation for combat deployment to France. Wickersham assumed duty as Division's Assistant Chief of Staff and supervised the training.[3][4]

In the spring of 1918, the division began its movement toward embarkation camps and sailed for Brest, France by the beginning of May 1918. Upon arrival to France, Wickersham was promoted to Major and assigned to the staff of IV Corps as Assistant Chief of Staff for Operations under Major general Joseph T. Dickman. While in this capacity, he participated in the preparation and execution of the IV Corps attack during the Battle of Saint-Mihiel in September 1918 and was decorated with Army Distinguished Service Medal for his service.[2][4]

Wickersham was subsequently promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel and transferred to the General Staff of the newly created Second United States Army under Lieutenant General Robert Lee Bullard. While in this assignment, he participated in Meuse–Argonne offensive in the final weeks of the war. The Armistice with Germany brought an end to the war on November 11, 1918. Wickersham returned to the United States five months later, in April 1919, almost a year after he left for overseas.[2][4]

In the inter-war era, Wickersham commanded 306th Infantry Regiment and the 153rd Infantry Brigade, units of the 77th Division in the Organized Reserve. He served as President of the Joint Conference on Legal Education in the state of New York from 1932 to 1940. Wickersham remained in the New York National Guard and rose through the ranks to Colonel and successively commanded the 306th Infantry Regiment and 153rd Infantry Brigade, both attached to 77th Division under Brigadier general Julius Ochs Adler.[5]

Following the surrender of Germany on May 8, 1945, Wickersham moved his headquarters to Berlin and assumed additional duty as an assistant to Lieutenant General Lucius D. Clay, Deputy Military-Governor of the American Zone of Occupation Germany. He was ordered back to the United States in September that year and later joined the headquarters of 42nd Infantry Division under Major General Harry J. Collins.[10][4]

Wickersham was transferred to the inactive list and succeeded Collins in early 1946, when division was deactivated and reorganized as a New York Army National Guard formation. He was promoted to major general in the National Guard and as an experienced infantry officer, he urged universal military training in short periods that would not break up schooling of young recruits in order to keep his division prepared for national emergency.[11][4]

By the end of June 1948, Wickersham requested to be relieved of all National Guard duties because of the increasing demand of his private business. He was promoted to the rank of lieutenant general on the state's reserve list.[12][4][6]

Wickersham then resumed the practice of law in firm Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft and also served as counsel for Grand Jury Association of New York county and member emeritus of the American Law Institute. He was a founder of the American Legion and was its first department commander for New York. In February 1953, Wickersham was elected a member of the State Board of Regents, the governing body of the University of the State of New York. He resigned in 1955, because of the statutory age limit of 70 years for board membership.[4][13]

He was meanwhile appointed again the President of the Joint Conference on Legal Education in the state of New York in 1954 and served in this capacity until 1958.[4]

Book jacket of Wickersham Early Stamps of Venezuela

Wickersham was an avid collector of postage stamps and thanks to his collection of stamps of Venezuela, he published The Early Stamps of Venezuela in 1956. He wrote articles about other countries at well in philatelic publications. Wickersham was awarded the Lichtenstein Medal, which is given to a living individual for outstanding service to philately, by the Collectors Club of New York in 1959.[10][14]

He also served as Governor of the Collectors Club, and was its president in 1956. Wickersham presided the Jury of the 1956 New York City international exhibition.[10]

Wickersham died on January 31, 1968, aged 82, following a lengthy illness in Nassau Hospital in Mineola, New York. He was survived by his wife Rosalie Neilson Hinckley; son George; and daughter Rosalie. Wickersham is buried at Memorial Cemetery of Saint John's Church in Laurel Hollow, New York.[4][15]