William T. Fitzsimons
Lieutenant William Thomas Fitzsimons (April 18, 1889 – September 4, 1917) was an American physician and United States Army officer in World War I, and is considered the first American officer killed in the war. Fitzsimons was born in Burlington, Kansas on April 18, 1889 to J.I. and Catherine Fitzsimons. Fitzsimons graduated with a Doctor of Medicine degree[1] from the in 1912 and was a member of the Beta Theta Chapter of Nu Sigma Nu.
William T. Fitzsimons | |
|---|---|
 William T. Fitzsimons as a lieutenant. | |
| Born | April 18, 1889 Burlington, Kansas, United States |
| Died | September 4, 1917 (aged 28) Dannes-Camiers in Pas-de-Calais, France |
| Buried | British cemetery at Etaples |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Service/ |  United States Army |
| Years of service | 1912-1917 |
| Rank | Lieutenant |
| Known for | First US officer killed in World War I |
| Battles/wars | World War I |
| Alma mater | University of Kansas School of Medicine |
When the U.S. entered World War I, Fitzsimons was called into active duty. He volunteered for overseas duty and left Kansas City on June 14, 1917.[1] He was assigned to U.S. Army Base Hospital No. 5, which was associated with the British Expeditionary Forces near Dannes-Camiers, France.[1]
Fitzsimons was killed in a German air raid on September 4, 1917 along with Pvt. Oscar Tugo, Pvt. Rudolph Rubino and Pvt. Leslie Woods, when bombs fell on Base Hospital No. 5 near Dannes-Camiers in Pas-de-Calais, France. He was laid to rest in the afternoon of September 5, 1917 with full military honors in the British cemetery at Etaples along with the three enlisted men who also perished. His body was later moved to the U.S. Cemetery at Bony-Aisne.[1]
On July 1, 1920, Army Hospital 21 in Aurora, Colorado was officially renamed the Fitzsimons Army Hospital in his honor by direction of the War Department.[1][2] In 1955, PFC Albert T. Beinar was commissioned to paint a portrait of Lt. Fitzsimons. His painting was unveiled by Mamie Eisenhower during the seven-week stay of Dwight Eisenhower's heart attack recovery.[1]
References
- Littlejohn, Helen, ed. (1996). Annual Review: A History and Report of Fitzsimons Army Medical Center. Aurora, Colorado, United States: Public Affairs Office, Fitzsimons Army Medical Center.
- Welborn, Alex. "Lieutenant William T. Fitzsimons, MD: Good and Faithful Servant". University of Kansas Medical Center. Retrieved 2022-12-13.