Complex sentence: He served with distinction in the Mexican-American War at the capture of Tuxpan and in 1853-54 sailed with Commodore Matthew C. Perry's expedition to open Japan to the West.
Split into simpler sentences: He served with distinction in the Mexican-American War at the capture of Tuxpan. In 1853-54, he sailed with Commodore Matthew C. Perry's expedition to open Japan to the West.