SOMETIMES a man reaches such strength of character and mind, that he is ready to be taken into Heaven early in life. The rest of us have to live our lives fully until we can attain our goal. 
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To those of us who knew and loved Mike Wadsworth, no truer words could have been said of him than these from Mike's home-town minister. Mike surely missed nothing in life but the length of it.

The news of the death of Mike Wadsworth in action in Korea was unbelievable. Mike had been such a great friend to so many, had won the respect of all who knew him. It did not seem possible that he would not be coming back some day.

For Mike, combat in Korea was the realization of a fervent hope. His greatest desire was to lead Infantry troops in combat. He did not realize at the time of his graduation from West Point that the fulfillment of his ambition would come so soon.

Mike was born William McCoy Wadsworth, Jr., in Gadsden, Alabama, on January 25, 1926, the son of Mr. and Mrs. William McCoy Wadsworth. Mike's father died when Mike was just eleven years old, and from the day he died, Mike became the man of the house-a little boy of eleven years delivering newspapers after school, refusing to accept any money from his mother. Mike was certainly old and mature beyond his years, even as a little boy; a trait for which he was greatly respected by underclassmen and upperclassmen alike while at West Point.

During his boyhood Mike took a great interest in Boy Scout work, attaining the coveted Eagle Award. The "Outstanding Scout of the Year" award was given to Mike in recognition of his leadership in Boy Scout work in Gadsden. Later, wherever Mike went in the Service-at West Point, Ft. Riley and Ft. Benning-he, continued to lend his hand in Boy Scout work.

Mike went to the Air Corps in March 1944 to undergo flight training. He decided while in the Air Corps that he would like to make a career of the military and he wrote his congressman, Representative Rains, concerning entrance exams-with only two weeks off-duty preparation-he was able to pass the entrance exams to West Point. It was only after he had passed that he wrote his family about his plans for an Army career. He didn't want anyone to know if he had failed.

Mike took West Point with all the courage, sincerity, and devotion he could muster. Mike dedicated himself early to the high principles and ideals upon which the Military Academy is founded. He early developed that most admirable trait desired in an Army officer-of looking after and caring for his men-a trait that was to cost him his life in combat five years later. Mike was loved and respected by those under, alongside, and above him in rank. He commanded a platoon in. A-2 Company during his First Class year. By First Class year lie had definitely decided upon the Infantry as the only branch for him. He would expound long on the Infantry's age-old "Queen of Battles" role.

Mike graduated with the Class of '49 and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the Infantry. For Mike this culminated a long uphill struggle. He had broken his arm badly during Plebe year while playing soccer. Little encouragement was given him that the arm would heal completely, and there was every indication from the medical authorities at West Point that he could not obtain a commission unless he regained full use of the arm. For three years Mike spent off duty hours at the Station Hospital and the gym trying to obtain the required usage of his arm so that he might receive the commission he so earnestly desired. It was a happy day in April of First Class year for Mike when it was announced that he would receive his commission with his class.

Mike met Elizabeth McCorkle at a party during his sophomore year in High School in Gadsden. Bette stuck out the years while Mike was at West Point, experiencing the joys and sorrows of dating a cadet for four solid years, waiting for June week and mar- riage. At Plebe Christmas Mike asked Bette to come to West Point and proudly presented her with an A pin. Two years later at the Ring Hop Bette received her Miniature from Mike.

They were married in Gadsden following Graduation in June of 1949. After a whirlwind honeymoon during Graduation Leave, Bette and Mike went to Ft. Riley where Mike attended the Officer's Basic Course at the Ground General School, then to Ft. Benning for the Infantry Officer's Basic Course. These all too few months were filled with happiness for the Wadsworths. Mike was a perfect husband; Bette a devoted, under- standing wife. They were so very proud of each other-it was a joy to be with them and to see two people who loved each other as much as they did. There are many mem- ories of these days-such as the time Bette burned the biscuits and dropped a serving plate during their first attempt at having guests for dinner in their tiny basement apartment in Junction City, Kansas. Nearly all the A-2 boys had dinner at least once at the Wadsworth's. Mike had a habit of bringing home for lunch or supper some bachelor officer whom he felt might prefer a little of Bette's home cooked food to the mess hall variety. There were nights at Riley when some of the officers and their wives would meet while the men learned to disassemble and assemble various Infantry weapons,
the Wadsworth's apartment usually being the headquarters for all of these sessions. It was always an exceptionally good evening when it was spent at the Wadsworth's.

Upon completion of the basic course at Ft. Benning, Mike was told he would be retain- ed at the Infantry School to teach-on the Weapons Committee. In June 1950, a daugh- ter, Catherine Donna Wadsworth, was born to proud Mike and Bette Wadsworth. Mike basked in the joy of being a father-he was to know his daughter for only a short four months.

Mike and Bette celebrated their first wedding anniversary by listening to the news of the outbreak of the Korean conflict. Mike grew more and more restless in his teaching job as he realized his friends were sailing for combat in Korea. In August he requested relief from instruction duty and Immediate assignment to combat in Korea. Mike and Bette left Ft. Benning with a 45 day leave ahead of them. Less than one week had passed when news came of the death in combat in Korea of a very close friend of Mike's-Lt. Cecil Newman. The next few days were filled with telegrams, telephone calls, etc. trying to get his leave cancelled and orders changed to hasten his entry into combat. Mike flew to Korea and arrived there October 25, being assigned to the 2nd (second to none as he would write to Bette) Infantry Division. He wrote that he had the "best platoon in the best company in the Division" and that his platoon Sgt., Sgt. Henry Heissner, was "A-1". Mike got what he wanted-combat with a fine sergeant, a fine platoon, and membership in what he thought was the best division in the Army. Mike wrote on 21 November that he had been recommended for promotion. The promotion never came through. On December 8, 1950, Mike's mother and wife received the telegram: "died in Osaka, Japan, of wounds received in Korea". In January 1951, Mike's body arrived in Gadsden and was buried next to his father on January 16, 1951. In October Bette received a Bronze Star, awarded to Mike posthumously for
action on November 16, 1951.

 The citation read, In part:
"SECOND LIEUTENANT WILLIAM M WADSWORTH, 059207, United States Army a member of Company E, 9th Infantry Regiment, 2d Infantry Division, distinguished himself by heroic achievement on 13 November 1950 in the vicinity of Pugwon, Korea. On that date he was a platoon leader in a unit that was attacking an enemy-held hill. When the top of the hill had been reached, Lieutenant Wadsworth and the lead squad were cut off from the remainder of the platoon by a heavy enemy mortar barrage. He immediately ordered a withdrawal to a position of cover, and, although wounded by an enemy mortar shell, remained on the hill until all of the wounded had been evacuated. He then established a defensive position and refused to be evacuated for treatment until the next day when the threat of an enemy counterattack had diminished. As a result of his prompt action and absolute disregard for his personal safety, his company was able to hold its position with a minimum of casualties. The heroism and high devotion to duty displayed by Lieutenant Wadsworth on this occasion reflect great credit upon himself and the military service."

Mike's Platoon Sergeant wrote of Mike, "From the moment that Lt. Wadsworth arrived at my platoon while we were in rest area I knew that I had received a prize. In no time at all he had shown, by his leadership that he was the kind of an officer that you will follow to 'Hell and back'. . . He was in most cases ahead of the scouts and on several occasions I had to remind him that it was his job to direct the platoon's actions and not scout for it... I am positive that you must know that he was really a wonderful type of person, and having had 4 previous platoon leaders in Korea and 13 in Europe during World War II, I honestly believe that he was my best and certainly had a great military future ahead of him...."

In describing the action in which Mike was killed, Sgt. Heissner writes, " . On the 25th (November) we were ordered to dig the platoon in on the side of a slate covered hill. . . We dug out a shallow fox-hole ... and divided up the night in watches. About 3:30 a.m. we suddenly woke up feeling very uneasy and heard a lot of chat. tering to our front. We heard one of them talking and I knew that they were Chinese
. ....we immediately opened fire on them, but they were so close that they were able to throw grenades right in on us. Finally in some hand to hand fighting we were able to start to push them back. but Lt. Wadsworth was standing up out in the open shouting at our own men and the enemy too, and a Chinese threw a grenade hitting him. he refused to leave right then and in a few minutes a "burp" to him in the chest and stomach. By this time almost everyone on the hill was killed or wounded. but Cpl Brown, who carried him down the hill, got a jeep and personally drove Mike to the aid station through enemy fire. . . I can honestly say that if it had not been for his courage and devotion to duty as an officer and a West Point graduate the company would have easily been overwhelmed. . . I can justly say that I am glad to have been a member of his platoon, if even for a little while. 
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No greater tribute can come to Mike than these words from a man who served under him in combat. . Mike faced life unafraid of what the future might hold, he knew his duty. Mike's true memorial will be the great and good things done by those of us who knew and loved him and served with him. Mike's strength of character, loyalty, understanding. and above all, his devotion to duty will make all of us who knew him live a better life.

-Lieutenant John F.. Sutton. '49.
 
 
 
 
 

Personal Eulogy