Sponsored by:

Navy Federal Credit Union
William
James
Farrell
Unknown

–

February 13, 1933

Cemetery:

Calvary Cemetery

William Farrell received his early education in Boston Public Schools, Boston Latin School, and then graduated from Boston College in 1898. He received his theological training at Saint JohnÕs Seminary in Boston, and was ordained a Catholic Priest on December 18, 1902. His first appointment was as Curate at Saint BernardÕs Church in Newton, Massachusetts. He was commissioned a U.S. Army chaplain on October 5, 1917, and served during World War I where he suffered debilitating exposure to gas, from which he never recovered. After returning from the war he served at Saint AnthonyÕs Church in North Woburn and Saint Thomas Church in Wilmington, Massachusetts. He also served as National Chaplain of the Army and Navy Legion of Honor. He suffered ill health after the war and died in 1933 at the age of fifty-six.

Awards Received

  • Distinguished Service Cross

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    First Lieutenant (Chaplain’s Corps)

    Regiment:

    104th Infantry Regiment

    Division:

    26th Division, American Expeditionary Forces

    Action Date:

    April 20 & November 9, 1918
    War Department, General Orders No. 49 (1922)

    The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to First Lieutenant (Chaplain’s Corps) William James Farrell, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 104th Infantry Regiment, 26th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, at Seicheprey, France, 20 April 1918. With great gallantry and with utter disregard for his own danger, Chaplain Farrell personally conducted an ambulance from the battalion command post to the position of a supporting battery, where he assisted in the evacuation of the wounded. At Ville-devant-Chaumont, France, 9 November 1918, when informed that one of the men of his battalion had been mortally wounded, Chaplain Farrell, in spite of extremely heavy artillery and flanking machine-gun fire, made his way by running and crawling from shell hole to shell hole until he reached the dying soldier to whom he gave the last rites of his church and with whom he remained until the soldier died.

  • Silver Star

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    First Lieutenant (Chaplain’s Corps)

    Regiment:

    104th Infantry Regiment

    Division:

    26th Division, American Expeditionary Forces

    Action Date:

    April 20, 1918
    GHQ, American Expeditionary Forces, Citation Orders No. 2 (June 3, 1919)

    By direction of the President, under the provisions of the act of Congress approved July 9, 1918 (Bul. No. 43, W.D., 1918), First Lieutenant (Chaplain’s Corps) William James Farrell, United States Army, is cited by the Commanding General, American Expeditionary Forces, for gallantry in action and a silver star may be placed upon the ribbon of the Victory Medals awarded him. Chaplain Farrell distinguished himself by gallantry in action while serving with the 104th Infantry Regiment, 26th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, in action at Seicheprey, France, 20 April 1918, in personally conducting an ambulance over a shell-swept road to evacuate the wounded.