356th Inf 89th D
Romagne France
World War I
Purple Heart
Corporal Hardaman Dunning was the son of William Henry Dunning and Lillie Jane Groom Dunning. He was the fifth (born June 9, 1895) of ten children. Hardaman lived in Deepwater, Henry County, MO upon his deployment to serve during World War I in the U. S. Army, 356th Infantry Regiment, 89th Division. Hardaman was a runner during the war. With his stigma and small stature, he was well-suited for this mission. Four days after the Armistice Treaty had been signed, Hardaman was given the assignment to deliver a message to the front line to inform them that the war was over. As he was running to deliver this message, a sniper shot him in the leg. Despite the infliction, he pursued his assignment and delivered the message. However, his leg developed gangrene, and it was amputated. The attempt to save his life was to no avail. Hardaman died November 15, 1918 of these wounds received in action. His mother, Lillie Jane Groom Dunning, visited his gravesite (see photo). Hardaman is buried in the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery and Memorial, Romagne, France; Plot H Row 10 Grave 24.