Editing Joyce Kilmer (section)

===Death and burial===
During the [[Second Battle of Marne]] there was heavy fighting throughout the last days of July 1918. On July 30, 1918, Kilmer volunteered to accompany Major [[William J. Donovan|"Wild Bill" Donovan]] (later, in World War II, the founder of the [[Office of Strategic Services]], forerunner to the [[Central Intelligence Agency]]) when Donovan's battalion (1–165th Infantry) was sent to lead the day's attack.

During the course of the day, Kilmer led a scouting party to find the position of a German machine gun. When his comrades found him, some time later, they thought at first that he was peering over the edge of a little hill, where he had crawled for a better view. When he did not answer their call, they ran to him and found him dead. According to Father [[Francis P. Duffy]]: "A bullet had pierced his brain. His body was carried in and buried by the side of Ames. God rest his dear and gallant soul."<ref name="Duffy" />{{rp|p.193}} A [[sniper]]'s bullet likely killed him instantly. According to military records, Kilmer died on the battlefield near Muercy Farm, beside the Ourcq River near the village of [[Seringes-et-Nesles]], in France, on July 30, 1918, at the age of 31.<ref>" Joyce Kilmer Slain on the West Front; Former Member of Times Staff Had Won Sergeantcy In The 165th of Infantry. His Writings Well Known Author Was Rutgers And Columbia Graduate—Several Veterans Of The 69th Killed. His Lusitania Poem. Fought At The Marne. Veteran Of 69th Killed. Lieut. Harwood 'Doing Fine.' Parents Receive Letter Written After Date Of Reported Death." ''The New York Times'' August 18, 1918.</ref> For his valor, Kilmer was posthumously awarded the [[Croix de guerre 1914–1918 (France)|Croix de Guerre]] (War Cross) by the [[France|French Republic]].<ref>"Joyce Kilmer cited for French War Cross" ''The New York Times'' January 2, 1919.</ref>

Kilmer was buried in the [[Oise-Aisne American Cemetery and Memorial]], near Fere-en-Tardenois, [[Aisne]], [[Picardy]], France just across the road and stream from the farm where he was killed.<ref>[https://www.abmc.gov/multimedia/videos/oise-aisne-american-cemetery American Battle Monuments Commission]</ref> A [[cenotaph]] erected to his memory is located on the Kilmer family plot in [[Elmwood Cemetery (North Brunswick, New Jersey)|Elmwood Cemetery]], in [[North Brunswick, New Jersey]].<ref>[https://www.mycentraljersey.com/picture-gallery/life/2018/05/25/photos-parker-veterans-celebrate-an-early-memorial-day/35360327/ My Central Jersey]</ref> A Memorial Mass was celebrated at [[St. Patrick's Cathedral, New York|St. Patrick's Cathedral]] in [[New York City]] on October 14, 1918.<ref>"Mass for Joyce Kilmer. Memorial Service at St. Patrick's Cathedral, New York Tomorrow Morning." ''The New York Times''. October 13, 1918.</ref>

<gallery heights="220px" widths="150px" mode="nolines">
File:Kilmer family monument, Elmwood Cemetery, NJ.jpg|Cenotaph at [[Elmwood Cemetery (North Brunswick, New Jersey)|Elmwood Cemetery]]
Image:Kilmer plaque.JPG|Plaque honoring Kilmer in [[Central Park]], New York City
Image:Joyce kilmer plaque.jpg|Plaque honoring Kilmer in [[Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest]]
File:KilmerMemorialPlaque.JPG|Plaque erected at the [[Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest]] in [[Graham County, North Carolina]]
</gallery>