William Herman Wilhelm (1867-1901) entered Lehigh as a student in 1883 as a member of the Class of 1887. He was born in Mauch Chunk, Pennsylvania, the son of James Henry and Martha Weaver Wilhelm. He was educated at Ulrich’s Preparatory School in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. He entered Lehigh, where he became a charter member of Psi Upsilon fraternity. A vacancy occurred in the U.S. Military Academy for the District where he resided. He competed for the position and was a successful contestant and entered West Point June 1884 as the youngest cadet in his class. He graduated from the U.S. Military Academy in 1888 and served in the 10th Infantry in the West and Southwest until 1897. When war was declared against Spain, he became aide-de-camp to Brigadier-General Simon Snyder and accompanied him with the Army of Occupation to Cuba. Following the Spanish-American War (1896-1898), the United States acquired the Philippines. In 1899 Wilhelm was promoted to Captain with orders to proceed to the Philippines and was assigned to the 21st Regiment of Infantry as Captain in Company B. The Filipinos waged a war of resistance against American occupation. At the battle of San Mateo Wilhelm displayed much bravery and received the “brevet of major for gallant and meritorious services.” Also he was recommended for the Medal of Honor for bravery in action. When the Filipino leader was captured the resistance died down. The conflict ended with a Peace Proclamation on July 4, 1902. This war is now known as the Philippine-American War (1899-1902). According to his cousin, Ethan Allan Weaver, who copied Captain Wilhelm’ journal, Wilhelm was mortally wounded in action against the Filipino insurgents in the foothills six miles from Lipa, Batangas Province, Philippines on June 10, 1901. Captain Wilhelm died June 12, 1901 at Lipa. His body was returned to Mauch Chunk via Manila for burial and presumably his journal accompanied his body on the return to Mauch Chunk where it came into the possession of his cousin, Ethan Allan Weaver.