Stockham was born in Detroit, Michigan on March 16, 1881. His mother died and his father traveled to New Jersey where he left the young child to be raised by a foster mother, Sophie Heinz in Newark. 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. He moved to Belleville, New Jersey and served as a fireman in the area. Five years later, on May 31, 1912, he reenlisted in the Marine Corps.
Career
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. Sgt. 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, Calif. However, within a week, he had returned to New York City, where on June 7, he reenlisted. By February 8, 1918, Sgt. 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. During the last-named battle, Gunnery Sergeant Stockham displayed the "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty" which later earned him the Medal of Honor by an Act of Congress. Gy. Sgt. Stockham died in France on June 22, 1918. Thanks to the efforts of his former Lt., Clifton Cates and comrades, one of whom was the man whose life his gas mask saved, Barak Mattingly, Gy. Sgt. Stockham was belatedly and posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor by an Act of Congress on December 21, 1939, over 20 years after his sacrifice.
Medal of Honor Citation
Rank and organization: Gunnery Sergeant, U.S. Marine Corps, 96th Company, 2d Battalion, 6th Regiment, 2d Division, American Expeditionary Forces. Place and date: At Bois-de-Belleau, France. Action Dates: June 13–14, 1918. Entered service at: New York, N.Y. Birth: Detroit, Michigan. General Orders: War Department, General Orders No. 15 Citation:
During an intense enemy bombardment with high explosive and gas shells which wounded or killed many members of the company, G/Sgt. 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. He continued with undaunted courage and valor to direct and assist in the evacuation of the wounded, until he himself collapsed from the effects of gas, dying as a result thereof a few days later. His courageous conduct undoubtedly saved the lives of many of his wounded comrades and his conspicuous gallantry and spirit of self-sacrifice were a source of great inspiration to all who served with him.
Note – Gunnery Sergeant Stockham's Medal of Honor was awarded by the Secretary of the Army and, thus, it would have been of the Army design rather than the naval design.
Silver Star Citation
Rank and organization: Gunnery Sergeant, U.S. Marine Corps, 96th Company, 6th Regiment, 2nd Division, American Expeditionary Forces. Born: March 16, 1881, New York, New York. Action Dates: June 6 – July 10, 1918. General Orders: Citation Orders, 2d Division, American Expeditionary Forces. Citation:
By direction of the President, under the provisions of the act of Congress approved July 9, 1918, Gunnery Sergeant Fred William Stockham, United States Marine Corps, is cited by the Commanding General, SECOND Division, American Expeditionary Forces, for gallantry in action and a silver star may be placed upon the ribbon of the Victory Medals awarded him. Gunnery Sergeant Stockham distinguished himself while serving with the 96th Company, Sixth Regiment, 2d Division, American Expeditionary Forces at Chateau-Thierry, France, 6 June - 10 July 1918.
In 1943, the destroyer was named for Gy. Sgt. Fred W. Stockham, USMC. In 2001, the container & roll-on/roll-off ship USNS Soderman was renamed. As of 2016, she is still in service.
