Background
Stockham was born in Detroit, Michigan on March 16, 1881.
Stockham was born in Detroit, Michigan on March 16, 1881.
He enlisted in the Marine Corps on July 16, 1903 and, over the next four years, served twice in the Philippines, from September 26, 1903 to August 28, 1905 and from September 29, 1906 to January 13, 1907, and did one tour of duty in China in the intervening period. Private Stockham was honorably discharged at New York City on July 15, 1907. Four years later, on May 31, 1912, he reenlisted in the Marine Corps.
By the time he was again discharged, on May 30, 1916, he had risen to the rank of sergeant and had served most of his term ashore in Nicaragua.
Stockham saw combat during the engagement at León, Nicaragua, on October 6, 1915, a little over a month before his departure from that troubled Latin American nation. He was honorably discharged again on May 30, 1916, this time at Mare Island, California
However, within a week, he had returned to New York City, where on June 7, he reenlisted. By February 8, 1918, Stockham was in France and heading for the trenches.
Between that time and his death, he served in the Toulon sector, in the Aisne operation, and at Belleau Wood.
Gy. Stockham died in France on June 22, 1918. Thanks to the efforts of his former comrades, one of whom undoubtedly was the man whose life his gas mask saved, Gy.
In 1943, the destroyer United States Ship Stockham (Doctor of Divinity-683) was named for Gy.
Fred West. Stockham, United States Marine Corps. In 2001, the container & roll-on/roll-off ship USNS Soderman (T-AKR-299) was renamed USNS GYSGT Fred West. Stockham (T-Alaska-3017). As of 2008, she is still in service.
During an intense enemy bombardment with high explosive and gas shells which wounded or killed many members of the company, G/Sergeant Stockham, upon noticing that the gas mask of a wounded comrade was shot away, without hesitation, removed his own gas mask and insisted upon giving it to the wounded man, well knowing that the effects of the gas would be fatal to himself.