Letter to the Editor: The Medal of Honor story in Hannibal — who knew there were two?

While reading the November / December 2023 issue of Missouri Life, my wife and I noted on pages 30-37 several articles about Missouri and its Medal of Honor recipients. While all the profiles were interesting, one listed Arthur J. Forrest from Hannibal, Mo.

Forrest was issued the award on April 19, 1919, for his actions as a sergeant with Company D, 354th Infantry, 89th Division, U.S. Army, on Nov. 1, 1918, near Remonville, France. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1918 and was sent to the Western Front in France and saw action at St. Mihiel, Meuse-Argonne and the Defensive Sector. 

He also was awarded the World War I Victory Medal (with three service stars), the French Medallie militaire, the French Croix de guerre (with two palms), the Italian Croce at Merito di Guerra and the Kingdom of Montenegro Medal for military bravery. Following the war, he returned to the U.S. in 1919 and played semi-professional baseball in Wyoming and North Carolina. He then became a contact representative for the Veterans Administration in St. Louis. He died at the age of 69. 

His Medal of Honor citation reads: “When the advance of his company was stopped by bursts of fire from a nest of six enemy machine guns, without being discovered, Sgt. Forrest worked his way single-handed to a point within 50 yards of the machine gun nest. Charging, single-handed, he drove out the enemy in disorder, thereby protecting the advance platoon from annihilating fire, and permitting the resumption of the advance of his company.”

Wow! That was my reaction. Why did I not know about this man? My wife and I relocated to Hannibal almost 10 years ago to be close to our grandchildren. Over the years, we have been learning all about Mark Twain and life on the Mississippi as well as the historical development of Hannibal. The name of Arthur J. Forrest never surfaced.

Soon we were on a mission to investigate this veteran’s profile a little more. A quick scan of the Internet revealed his life, military service and where he was buried. Just about two miles from our home, we quickly called Grand View Funeral Home and Burial Park to ask Torrie Mook for directions to his gravesite. 

Torrie indicated that each year during Veterans Day, the local American Legion conducts a recognition ceremony for all the veterans and that Grand View displays many American flags for veterans throughout the park. While on the site visit, we noted the concrete base installed in 1960, just after Arthur’s death, was splitting and cracking, needing repair. Residing next to this veteran is his wife Bessie’s grave, also needing upgrading repairs. 

Over the years, my family has repaired family grave markers, including many veteran markers. We noted that Arthur’s stone base needed upgrading. The old concrete base was cracked and sagging. We mentioned the site’s condition to Torrie and asked if it would be OK if we paid to repair the site. Torrie suggested the extended Forrest family would need to be contacted for repairs, and she would begin looking online to locate a relative. Our quest began. We spent a few hours looking online, and Torrie found a first cousin in California to receive permission to proceed.

Our next stop was to Hannibal Monument to speak with Jeanne and Bruce Brosi about the costs for new 28-inch by 16-inch by 4-inch granite bases. Jeannie suggested I contact Brent Massie, the owner of Smith Funeral Home in Hannibal, about having Grand View assist in the site restoration, including the ability to polish and repaint the military bronze markers. She indicated the Hannibal American Legion always has an annual ceremony on Veterans Day at the site. Calls for help could be made to Jess Ornelas, along with Legion Commander Don Martin and Finance Chairman Jim Miller. 

Our first call to Brent Massie was immediately done, and he was enthusiastic to help do the improvements. He made a call to his site staff manager Jason Young to make it happen. Soon Jason called indicating that Grand View would gladly at no cost do the upgrading of both bronze markers along with the installation of both bases. Could we provide the new granite base improvements?

Our next contact with the Hannibal American Legion quickly produced an enthusiastic response. Jess Ornelas indicated the Legion had a veteran’s monument improvement fund to assist in the upgrades. The Legion committee quickly met, approved the purchase, and sent the payment to Hannibal Monument with an order and instructions to deliver the bases to Grand View for the placements. When the weather permits in December, this Medal of Honor’s site will be upgraded.

The second wow moment came when Jeanne Brosi mentioned a second Medal of Honor award recipient was buried in Hannibal at the Holy Family Catholic Cemetery. Could this be possible? Jeanne quickly sketched the location. We drove about a mile across town to Holy Family Cemetery. Within a few yards of often-traveled Palmyra Road laid Civil War hero and Medal of Honor winner Thomas J. Higgins Sr.

Higgins was issued the award on April 1, 1898, for his actions as a sergeant with Company D, 99th Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment, U.S. Army, on May 22, 1863, at the Siege of Vicksburg, Miss. He enlisted in the Union Army in 1862, and during an assault on Vicksburg, he volunteered to act as the color bearer for his regiment on that day since the acting color bearer had been wounded. Under intense fire, he was not hit and was captured but released shortly afterward. He rejoined his unit and remained with them until the end of the war. 

His Medal of Honor citation reads: “When his regiment fell back in the assault, repulsed, this soldier continued to advance and planted the flag on the parapet, where he was captured by the enemy.”

Higgins’ stone reads:

Sgt. Thomas J. Higgins, a Barry, Illinois, resident, was awarded the Medal of Honor for conspicuous gallantry at Vicksburg, Miss., on 22 May 1863. As a member of Company D of the 99th Illinois Infantry, Higgins bravely carried the U.S. flag into Rebel territory despite receiving considerable fire from men of the 2nd Texas infantry. As he neared the top of the Confederate fortification, the Texans lowered their weapons in Higgins’ honor before capturing him. He received the medal on 1 April 1898 as a result of the request of his captors. 

It is amazing and very special that a town the size of Hannibal, Mo., hosts and has honored two of our nation’s Medal of Honor heroes. Keeping their burial sites and monuments in pristine condition is important and will continue due to the efforts of many people, including those mentioned above. 

It does take a village. Thanks for your work.

William J. Dees
Hannibal, Missouri