On 13 June 1918, GySgt Fred Stockham was in the dark forest of Belleau Wood where deadly mustard gas and bullets rained down on Marines. An intense enemy bombardment of high explosives and gas shells left most of Stockham’s company killed or wounded. The gunnery sergeant noticed that shrapnel had shredded the gas mask of a wounded comrade. Without hesitating, he put his own mask on the young man’s face, knowing that the act would cost him his life. Stockham then continued to direct and assist in the evacuation of wounded until he collapsed from the horrific effects of the gas, dying in agony days later.