List of Medal of Honor recipients for the Boxer Rebellion

The Boxer Movement, or Boxer Rebellion, was a Chinese uprising from November 1899 to September 7, 1901, against foreign influence in areas such as trade, politics, religion and technology that occurred in China during the final years of the Manchu rule (Qing dynasty).

The members of the Chinese Society of Righteous and Harmonious Fists were simply called boxers by the Westerners due to the martial arts and calisthenics they practiced. It began as an anti-foreign, anti-imperialist, peasant-based movement that attacked foreigners who were building railroads and violating Feng shui. Christians who they felt were responsible for foreign domination of China were also targeted. In June 1900, the Boxers invaded Beijing and killed 230 non-Chinese. The Qing commander in chief Ronglu expelled the Boxers from the city. The Qing ordered foreign diplomats and personnel to leave to Tianjin but they refused and stay put in the legation quarter of Beijing.

After the foreign attack at the Battle of Taku Forts (1900) and the foreign invasion in the Seymour Expedition the government of Empress Dowager Cixi ordered the Kansu Braves to surround the foreign diplomats, civilians, soldiers and some Chinese Christians in the legation quarter. The "siege" lasted 55 days until a multinational coalition rushed 20,000 troops to their rescue in the Gaselee Expedition. The Chinese government was forced to indemnify the victims and make many additional concessions. Subsequent reforms implemented after the crisis of 1900 laid the foundation for the end of the Qing dynasty and the establishment of the modern Chinese Republic.

The Medal of Honor was created during the American Civil War and is the highest military decoration presented by the United States government to a member of its armed forces. The recipients must have distinguished themselves at the risk of their own life above and beyond the call of duty in action against an enemy of the United States. Due to the nature of this medal, it is commonly presented posthumously.

During the Boxer rebellion, 59 American servicemen received the Medal of Honor for their actions. Four of these were for Army personnel, twenty-two went to Navy sailors and the remaining thirty-three went to Marines. Harry Fisher was the first Marine to receive the medal posthumously and the only posthumous recipient for this conflict.

Recipients

 This with the * indicates that the Medal of Honor was awarded posthumously.

Image Name Service Rank Place of action Date of action Notes
John M. Adams Marine Corps Sergeant near Tianjin, China Jul 13, 1900 "[For] distinguishing himself by meritorious conduct"
Harry C. Adriance Marine Corps Corporal near Tianjin, China Jul 13, 1900 "[For] distinguishing himself by meritorious conduct"
Edward Allen Navy Boatswain's Mate First Class China Jun 13, 1900 and Jun 20, 1900 – Jun 22, 1900 "[For] distinguishing himself by meritorious conduct"
Edwin N. Appleton Marine Corps Corporal Tianjin, China Jun 20, 1900 "[A]ssisted in destroying buildings occupied by the enemy"
Erwin J. Boydston Marine Corps Private Beijing, China Jul 21, 1900 – Aug 17, 1900 "[A]ssisted in the erection of barricades"
Andre W. Brewster Army Captain Tianjin, China Jul 13, 1900 "While under fire rescued two of his men from drowning"
James Burnes Marine Corps Private Tianjin, China Jun 20, 1900 "[A]ssisted in destroying buildings occupied by hostile forces"
Albert R. Campbell Marine Corps Private Tianjin, China Jun 21, 1900 For distinguishing himself by his conduct during the advance on Tientsin
William L. Carr Marine Corps Private Beijing, China Jul 21, 1900 – Aug 17, 1900 For distinguishing himself by his conduct in the presence of the enemy
John P. Chatham Navy Gunner's Mate Second Class China Jun 13, 1900 and Jun 20, 1900 – Jun 22, 1900 For distinguishing himself by his conduct in the presence of the enemy.
Joseph Clancy Navy Chief Boatswain's Mate China Jun 13, 1900 and Jun 20, 1900 – Jun 22, 1900 For distinguishing himself by his conduct in the presence of the enemy.
James Cooney Marine Corps Private near Tianjin, China Jul 13, 1900 "[For] distinguishing himself by meritorious conduct"
John O. Dahlgren Marine Corps Corporal Beijing, China Jun 20, 1900 – Jul 16, 1900 "[For] distinguishing himself by meritorious conduct"
Head and shoulders of a white man wearing a cap and a jacket with stripes on the upper sleeves, one medal pinned to the left breast, and two identical star–shaped medals hanging from ribbons around his neck. Daniel J. Daly Marine Corps Private Beijing, China Aug 14, 1900 For distinguishing himself by meritorious conduct. Later awarded a second Medal of Honor for action in Haiti in 1915.
Harry Fisher* Marine Corps Private Beijing, China Jun 20, 1900 – Jul 16, 1900 True name: Franklin J. Phillips (enlisted under alias); previously served in the U.S. Army. First US Marine to receive Medal of Honor posthumously.
Head of a white man with brown hair and a drooping mustache wearing a blue military jacket. The man is looking off to the side. Alexander J. Foley Marine Corps Sergeant near Tianjin, China Jul 13, 1900 "[For] distinguishing himself by meritorious conduct"
Head and shoulders of a white man wearing a peaked cap and a dark military jacket with ribbon bars on the left breast and bright buttons down the center. Charles R. Francis Marine Corps Private near Tianjin, China Jun 21, 1900 "[For] distinguishing himself by meritorious conduct"
Louis R. Gaiennie Marine Corps Private Beijing, China Jul 21, 1900 – Aug 17, 1900 "[For] distinguishing himself by meritorious conduct"
William F. Hamberger Navy Chief Carpenter's Mate China Jun 13, 1900 and Jun 20, 1900 – Jun 22, 1900 "[For] distinguishing himself by meritorious conduct"
Burke Hanford Navy Machinist First Class China Jun 13, 1900 and Jun 20, 1900 – Jun 22, 1900 "[D]istinguished himself by meritorious conduct"
Hans A. Hansen Navy Seaman China Jun 13, 1900 and Jun 20, 1900 – Jun 22, 1900 "[D]istinguished himself by meritorious conduct
Henry W. Heisch Marine Corps Private Tianjin, China Jun 20, 1900 He crossed the river in a small boat while under heavy enemy fire and assisted in destroying buildings occupied by the enemy
William E. Holyoke Navy Boatswain's Mate First Class China Jun 13, 1900 and Jun 20, 1900 – Jun 22, 1900 "[D]istinguished himself by meritorious conduct"
Head and shoulders of a young white man wearing a cap pushed high up on his forehead and a plain military jacket with a star–shaped medal hanging from a ribbon pinned to his left breast. William C. Horton Marine Corps Private Beijing, China Jul 21, 1900 – Aug 17, 1900 "[A]assisted in the erection of barricades"
Martin Hunt Marine Corps Private Beijing, China Jun 20, 1900 – Jul 16, 1900 "[For] distinguishing himself by meritorious conduct"
Thomas W. Kates Marine Corps Private Tianjin, China Jun 21, 1900 "[For] distinguishing himself by meritorious conduct"
Joseph Killackey Navy Landsman China Jun 13, 1900 and Jun 20, 1900 – Jun 22, 1900 "[D]istinguished himself by meritorious conduct"
Head of a young white man with neatly combed hair wearing a jacket with lines of decorative piping running horizontally across the chest. Louis B. Lawton Army First Lieutenant Tianjin, China Jul 13, 1900 Carried a message and guided reinforcements across a wide and fireswept space, during which he was wounded three times
Clarence E. Mathias Marine Corps Private Tianjin, China Jul 13, 1900 "[For] distinguishing himself by meritorious conduct"
Samuel McAllister Navy Ordinary Seaman Tianjin, China Jun 20, 1900 Crossed the river in a small boat and assisted in destroying buildings occupied by the enemy
John McCloy Navy Coxswain China Jun 13, 1900 and Jun 20, 1900 – Jun 22, 1900 Later awarded a second Medal of Honor for action in Mexico in 1915.
Joseph Mitchell Navy Gunner's Mate First Class Beijing, China Jul 12, 1900 "[For] distinguishing himself by meritorious conduct"
Albert Moore Marine Corps Private Beijing, China Jul 21, 1900 – Aug 17, 1900 Assisted in the erection of barricades under a heavy fire from the enemy
John A. Murphy Marine Corps Drummer Beijing, China Jul 21, 1900 – Aug 17, 1900 "[For] distinguishing himself by meritorious conduct"
William H. Murray Marine Corps Private Beijing, China Jul 21, 1900 – Aug 17, 1900 "[D]istinguished himself by meritorious conduct" Served under the name of Henry W. Davis.
Harry W. Orndoff Marine Corps Private China Jun 13, 1900 and Jun 20, 1900 – Jun 22, 1900 "[D]istinguished himself by meritorious conduct"
Carl E. Petersen Navy Chief Machinist Beijing, China Jun 28, 1900 – Aug 17, 1900 "[D]istinguished himself by meritorious conduct"
Reuben J. Phillips Marine Corps Corporal China Jun 13, 1900 and Jun 20, 1900 – Jun 22, 1900 For distinguishing himself by meritorious conduct in the presence of the enemy
Herbert I. Preston Marine Corps Private Beijing, China Jul 21, 1900 – Aug 17, 1900 "[For] distinguishing himself by meritorious conduct"
A white man sitting relaxed in a wicker chair. He is wearing a white cap, light–colored pants, and a dark jacket with four round medals on the left breast and a star–shaped medal around the neck. George Rose Navy Seaman Beijing, China Jun 13, 1900 and Jun 20, 1900 – Jun 22, 1900 For his actions during the China Relief Expedition
Francis T. Ryan Navy Coxswain China Jun 13, 1900 and Jun 20, 1900 – Jun 22, 1900 "[D]istinguished himself by meritorious conduct"
David J. Scannell Marine Corps Private Beijing, China Jul 21, 1900 – Aug 17, 1900 "[For] distinguishing himself by meritorious conduct"
Gunner William Seach c. 1909 standing with a sword in his hands, wearing white gloves, a cap, and a long military coat with a row of medals on the left breast. William Seach Navy Ordinary Seaman China Jun 13, 1900 and Jun 20, 1900 – Jun 22, 1900 Along with six others repulsed an attack by 300 Chinese Imperialist soldiers and Boxer militants with a bayonet charge
France Silva Marine Corps Private Beijing, China Jun 28, 1900 – Aug 17, 1900 "[For] distinguishing himself by meritorious conduct"
Frank E. Smith Navy Oiler China Jun 13, 1900 and Jun 20, 1900 – Jun 22, 1900 In the presence of the enemy he distinguished himself by meritorlous conduct
James Smith Navy Landsman China Jun 13, 1900 and Jun 20, 1900 – Jun 22, 1900 In the presence of the enemy he distinguished himself by meritorious conduct
Head and shoulders of a white man with a thin, upturned mustache wearing a white peaked cap with black visor and a white jacket with dark shoulder boards, a row of medals on the left breast, and a star–shaped medal hanging from the neck. Robert H. Stanley Navy Hospital Apprentice Beijing, China Jul 12, 1900 Volunteered to carry messages under fire
Peter Stewart Marine Corps Gunnery Sergeant China Jun 13, 1900 and Jun 20, 1900 – Jun 22, 1900 In the presence of the enemy he distinguished himself by meritorious conduct
Clarence E. Sutton Marine Corps Sergeant Tianjin, China Jul 13, 1900 Although under heavy fire from the enemy he assisted in carrying a wounded officer from the field of battle
Karl Thomas Navy Coxswain China Jun 13, 1900 and Jun 20, 1900 – Jun 22, 1900 "[D]distinguished himself by meritorious conduct"
Calvin P. Titus Army Musician Beijing, China Aug 14, 1900 Gallant and daring conduct in the presence of the men of his regiment and was the first to scale the wall of the city.
Martin T. Torgerson Navy Gunner's Mate Third Class China Jun 13, 1900 and Jun 20, 1900 – Jun 22, 1900 "[D]istinguished himself by meritorious conduct"
Oscar J. Upham Marine Corps Private Beijing, China Jul 21, 1900 – Aug 17, 1900 "[A]ssisted in the erection of barricades"
Robert H. Von Schlick Army Private Tianjin, China Jul 13, 1900 "Although previously wounded while carrying a wounded comrade to a place of safety, rejoined his command, which partly occupied an exposed position upon a dike, remaining there after his command had been withdrawn, singly keeping up the fire, and obliviously presenting himself as a conspicuous target until he was literally shot off his position by the enemy."
Edward A. Walker Marine Corps Sergeant Beijing, China Jun 20, 1900 – Jul 16, 1900 "[For] distinguishing himself by meritorious conduct"
Axel Westermark Navy Seaman Beijing, China Jun 28, 1900 – Aug 17, 1900 "[For] distinguishing himself by meritorious conduct"
Jay Williams Navy Coxswain China Jun 13, 1900 and Jun 20, 1900 – Jun 22, 1900 Distinguished himself by meritorious conduct while serving with the relief expedition
Frank A. Young Marine Corps Private Beijing, China Jun 20, 1900 – Jul 16, 1900 "[For] distinguishing himself by meritorious conduct"
William Zion Marine Corps Private Beijing, China Jul 21, 1900 – Aug 17, 1900 "[For] distinguishing himself by meritorious conduct"

This page was last updated at 2023-12-09 03:03 UTC. Update now. View original page.

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