TECHNICAL PROBLEMS CONTINUE BUT AT LEAST I CAN DO RERUNS FROM YEARS AGO.
Balladeer’s Blog once again takes a look at a currently neglected conflict and some of the military personnel who served in it. Here’s a look at some of the Congressional Medal of Honor recipients from the Relief Expedition during the Boxer Massacres in China (1900).
CALVIN P. TITUS
Branch of Service: Army
Rank: Standard Bearer/ Musician
Citation: “For gallant and daring conduct in the presence of his colonel and other officers and enlisted men of his regiment on 14 August 1900, while serving with Company E, 14th Infantry, at Peking, China. Musician Titus was first to scale the wall of the city.” He raised the American Flag from the top of that wall. (Pictured above.) NOTE: Titus previously served in the Philippine War (1899-1902) and subsequently in the Mexican Expedition (1916-1917) and Occupied Germany after World War One.
PETER STEWART
Branch of Service: Marine Corps
Rank: Gunnery Sergeant
Citation: “For extraordinary heroism while serving with the Marine Guard, Captain Newt Hall’s Marine Detachment, 1st Regiment (Marines), U.S.S. Newark in action with the relief expedition of the Allied forces in China during the battles of 13, 20, 21, and 22 June 1900. Throughout this period and in the presence of the enemy, Stewart distinguished himself by meritorious conduct.”
ROBERT H. VON SCHLICK
Branch of Service: Army
Rank: Private
Citation: “For gallantry in action on 13 July 1900, while serving with Company C, 9th Infantry, at Tientsin, China. Although previously wounded while carrying a wounded comrade to a place of safety, Private Von Schlick rejoined his command, which partly occupied an exposed position upon a dike, remaining there after his command had been withdrawn, singly keeping up the fire, and obliviously presenting himself as a conspicuous target until he was literally shot off his position by the enemy.”
OSCAR J. UPHAM
Branch of Service: Marine Corps
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Rank: Private
Citation: “For extraordinary heroism in action in the presence of the enemy at Peking, China, 21 July to 17 August 1900. Although under a heavy fire from the enemy during this period, Private Upham assisted in the erection of barricades.” NOTE: Upham had also served in the Spanish-American War.
WILLIAM SEACH
Branch of Service: Navy
Rank: Ordinary Seaman
Citation: “For extraordinary heroism in action with the relief expedition of the Allied forces in China during the battles of 13, 20, 21 and 22 June 1900, while serving with a detachment from the U.S.S. Newark. On 13 June Ordinary Seaman Seach and six others were cited for their courage in repulsing an attack by 300 Chinese Imperialist soldiers and Boxer militants with a bayonet charge, thus thwarting a planned massive attack on the entire force.
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On 20 June during a day-long battle, Seach ran across an open clearing, gained cover, and cleaned out nests of Chinese snipers. On 21 June during a surprise saber attack by Chinese cavalrymen, Seach was cited for defending gun emplacements. On 22 June Seach and others breached the wall of a Chinese fort, fought their way to the enemy’s guns, and turned the cannon upon the defenders of the fort.”
KARL THOMAS
Branch of Service: Navy
Rank: Coxswain
Citation: “For extraordinary heroism in action while serving with the detachment from the U.S.S. Newark, fighting with the relief expedition of the Allied forces in China 13, 20, 21, and 22 June 1900. During this period and in the presence of the enemy, Coxswain Thomas distinguished himself by meritorious conduct.”
CLARENCE E. SUTTON
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Branch of Service: Marine Corps
Rank: 1st Sergeant
Citation: “For extraordinary heroism while serving with the Headquarters, 1st Regiment (Marines), in action during the battle near Tientsin, China, 13 July 1900. Although under heavy fire from the enemy, Sergeant Sutton assisted in carrying a wounded officer from the field of battle.” That “wounded officer” was THE Marine Corps Lieutenant Smedley D. Butler. NOTE: Sutton had previously served in the Philippine War.
ROBERT H. STANLEY
Branch of Service: Navy
Rank: Hospital Apprentice
Citation: “For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving in the presence of the enemy in volunteering and carrying messages under fire at Peking, China on 12 July 1900. Hospital Apprentice Stanley’s exceptional fortitude, inspiring initiative, and unrelenting devotion to duty reflected great credit upon himself and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.” NOTE: Stanley previously served in the Spanish-American War & the Philippine War and subsequently in World War One.
JOHN MCCLOY
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Branch of Service: Navy
Rank: Coxswain
Citation: “For extraordinary heroism in action while serving with the detachment from the U.S.S. Newark, fighting with the relief expedition of the Allied forces in China, 13, 20, 21, and 22 June 1900. During this period and in the presence of the enemy, Coxswain McCloy distinguished himself by meritorious conduct.” NOTE: McCloy was one of the rare men to earn TWO Medals of Honor, the 2nd one for his service in Vera Cruz in 1914.
GEORGE ROSE
Branch of Service: Navy
Rank: Seaman
Citation: “For extraordinary heroism in action in the presence of the enemy during the battles at Peking, China, 13, 20, 21 and 22 June 1900. Throughout this period, Seaman Rose distinguished himself by meritorious conduct. While stationed as a crewmember of the U.S.S. Newark, he was part of its landing force that went ashore off Taku, China. On 31 May 1900, he was in a party of six under John McCloy (MH) which took ammunition from the Newark to Tientsin. On 10 June 1900, he was one of a party that carried dispatches from LaFa to Yongstsum at night.
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On the 13th he was one of a few who fought off a large force of the enemy saving the Main baggage train from destruction. On the 20th and 21st he was engaged in heavy fighting against the Imperial Army being always in the first rank. On the 22d he showed gallantry in the capture of the Siku Arsenal. He volunteered to go to the nearby village which was occupied by the enemy to secure medical supplies urgently required. The party brought back the supplies carried by newly taken prisoners.” NOTE: Rose later served in World War One.
WILLIAM C. HORTON
Branch of Service: Marine Corps
Rank: Private
Citation: “For extraordinary heroism in action against the enemy at Peking, China, 21 July to 17 August 1900. Although under heavy fire from the enemy, Private Horton assisted in the erection of barricades.”
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SAMUEL MCALLISTER
Branch of Service: Navy
Rank: Ordinary Seaman
Citation: “For extraordinary heroism in action against the enemy at Tientsin, China, 20 June 1900, while serving with the detachment from the U.S.S. Newark. Crossing the river in a small boat while under heavy enemy fire, Ordinary Seaman McAllister assisted in destroying buildings occupied by the enemy.”
LOUIS B. LAWTON
Branch of Service: Army
Rank: 1st Lieutenant
Citation: “For gallantry in action on 13 July 1900, while serving with the 9th Infantry at Tientsin, China. First Lieutenant Lawton carried a message and guided reinforcements across a wide and fireswept space, during which he was thrice wounded.”
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HENRY W. HEISCH
Branch of Service: Marine Corps
Rank: Private
Citation: “For extraordinary heroism in action against the enemy at Tientsin, China, 20 June 1900. Crossing the river in a small boat while under heavy fire, Private Heisch assisted in destroying buildings occupied by the enemy.”
ANDRE W. BREWSTER
Branch of Service: Army
Rank: Captain
Citation: “For gallantry in action on 13 July 1900, while serving with the 9th Infantry at Tientsin, China. While under fire Captain Brewster rescued two of his men from drowning.” NOTE: Brewster had previously served in the Spanish-American War.
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FRANKLIN J PHILLIPS (“Harry Fisher”)
Branch of Service: Marine Corps
Rank: Private
Citation: “For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty from 20 June 1900 to 16 July 1900. Private Phillips served in the presence of the enemy at the Battle of Peking, China. Assisting in the erection of barricades during the action, he was killed by the heavy enemy fire. By his courageous actions, indomitable spirit, and complete dedication to duty, Private Phillips reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.”
NOTE: Phillips had previously served in the Army during the Spanish-American War and was deployed with his unit in Cuba. On December 17th, 1898, seven days after the Treaty of Paris ended the war, Phillips deserted while suffering from Malaria. Dishonorably discharged, he reenlisted – this time in the Marine Corps – under the alias Harry Fisher. In 1988, per appeals from Congress and Phillips’ family, the record was revised and his Medal of Honor laurels referred to him as Franklin J. Phillips instead of his alias.
FOR ELEVEN MEDAL OF HONOR RECIPIENTS FROM WORLD WAR ONE CLICK HERE.
THE PESHTIGO FIRE – This piece of neglected history may be one of the most Balladeer’s Blog-ish topics in Balladeer’s Blog’s sixteen-year history. On October 8th, 1871 Peshtigo, Wisconsin burned down in a monumental conflagration that killed OVER FIVE TIMES AS MANY PEOPLE AS THE GREAT CHICAGO FIRE KILLED! 
THREE – Aeneas and his fleet of survivors of fallen Troy arrive at Latium in what is now west central Italy. They are made welcome by King Latinus, who offers his daughter Lavinia to Aeneas as a bride per the oracles foreseeing the arrival of strangers possessed of greatness and whose leader he should marry to Lavinia. 
MACABRA – This hostess of Omaha’s Theatre of the Macabre (1982-1985) has accomplished the seemingly impossible – she has managed to keep her real name a secret all these decades! She was an Omaha businesswoman who beat out over 150 other applicants for the position of WOWT’s Movie Hostess for their new Friday night at 10:30pm Bad Movie show. 
On top of that, Macabra rejected the over-the-top humor that characterized Elvira and her cash-in imitators in favor of a wry, understated approach that put me in mind of a combination of Movie Host legends like Moona Lisa and Fritz the Nite Owl. For an airing of Attack of the Mushroom People (1963) this hostess munched on mushrooms completely deadpan rather than hit the viewers over the head with the joke. 
LANCELOT LINK: SECRET CHIMP (1970-1971) – From Sandler-Burns-Marmer Productions came this fun children’s show that presented trained chimps in a spoof of secret agent stories. Dialogue was dubbed in over the usual twitchy mouth movements of chimpanzees to attempt the illusion that the “performers” were speaking. 
Lancelot Link was a secret agent for A.P.E. (Agency to Prevent Evil), the heroic spies who opposed the agents of C.H.U.M.P. (Criminal Headquarters for Underworld Master Plan). Lance’s cover was that he was a guitarist and singer for a bubblegum pop band called the Evolution Revolution. His fellow agent Mata Hairi was also in the band along with other chimps, and novelty songs credited to the group were released in the real world. 
MR. GHIM’S DREAM (1878) – This anonymous work is set in the autumn of 1877. Mr. Ghim is a poor American who dreams of ending the “current” unemployment crisis through a massive construction project that will employ thousands. Ghim tries to enlist some of the most well-known tycoons of his day – William Vanderbilt, Robert Roosevelt, Jay Gould and others – in his scheme. 
TWO – Aeneas and his companions, the survivors of the Fall of Troy, are still lingering in Carthage. Queen Dido, not knowing that the Roman State which Aeneas will spawn will also be the future destroyer of Carthage, remains deeply in love with Aeneas. 
Playing into (or maybe establishing) the enduring cliche about people in a burgeoning romance being driven closer by needing relief from a downpour, Dido and Aeneas start to feel even friskier. Juno manipulates things further by having nature and animal life in the cave behave in ways that parallel a wedding ceremony. 
ASTONISHING TALES Vol 1 #1 (Aug 1970) 
Dr. Doom Title: Unto You is Born … the Doomsman 
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