Chinese Boxer Rebellion and Veracruz Occupation Medal of Honor Recipient. He is one of only 19 military servicemen to have received this honor twice. He joined the US Merchant Marines at the age of 15 and and five years later he enlisted in the US Navy and served o the USS Columbia in the West Indies during the Spanish-American War. In 1900 he served on the cruiser USS Newark (C-1) in the Philippines and then participated in the China Relief Expedition and saw action during the Boxer Rebellion for which he was awarded his first Medal of Honor citation which reads: "For distinguished conduct in the presence of the enemy in battles of the 13th, 20th, 21st, and 22nd of June 1900, while with the relief expedition of the Allied Forces in China". In 1903 he was warranted as a boatswain and six years later he was advanced to the rank of chief boatswain In 1914 he saw action during the US Occupation of Veracruz (April 21 - 23 November 1914) for which he was awarded his second Medal of Honor citation which reads: "For heroism in leading 3 picket launches along the Veracruz sea front, drawing Mexican fire and enabling cruisers to save our men on shore, April 22, 1914. Though wounded, he gallantly remained at his post." Following the US entry into World War I, he was commissioned an ensign on July 1, 1917 and and following the war he served as commander of the minesweeper USS Curlew (AM-8) in the North Sea. He remained in the US Navy until 1928 when he retired at the rank of lieutenant commander. His other military awards and decorations include the Navy Cross, the Spanish-American War Campaign Medal, the Sampson Medal, the Philippine Campaign Medal, the China Relief Expedition Medal, the Mexican Service Medal, and the World War I Victory Medal.
Chinese Boxer Rebellion and Veracruz Occupation Medal of Honor Recipient. He is one of only 19 military servicemen to have received this honor twice. He joined the US Merchant Marines at the age of 15 and and five years later he enlisted in the US Navy and served o the USS Columbia in the West Indies during the Spanish-American War. In 1900 he served on the cruiser USS Newark (C-1) in the Philippines and then participated in the China Relief Expedition and saw action during the Boxer Rebellion for which he was awarded his first Medal of Honor citation which reads: "For distinguished conduct in the presence of the enemy in battles of the 13th, 20th, 21st, and 22nd of June 1900, while with the relief expedition of the Allied Forces in China". In 1903 he was warranted as a boatswain and six years later he was advanced to the rank of chief boatswain In 1914 he saw action during the US Occupation of Veracruz (April 21 - 23 November 1914) for which he was awarded his second Medal of Honor citation which reads: "For heroism in leading 3 picket launches along the Veracruz sea front, drawing Mexican fire and enabling cruisers to save our men on shore, April 22, 1914. Though wounded, he gallantly remained at his post." Following the US entry into World War I, he was commissioned an ensign on July 1, 1917 and and following the war he served as commander of the minesweeper USS Curlew (AM-8) in the North Sea. He remained in the US Navy until 1928 when he retired at the rank of lieutenant commander. His other military awards and decorations include the Navy Cross, the Spanish-American War Campaign Medal, the Sampson Medal, the Philippine Campaign Medal, the China Relief Expedition Medal, the Mexican Service Medal, and the World War I Victory Medal.
Bio by: William Bjornstad
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