The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1905-06-21
These We're Given to the WelI-Known Naval
Officer for Distinguished Services in
War and in Peace.

Commander Lucien Young, in COM
mand of the United States gunboat
Bennington, at present the station ship
for Honolulu, has the right to wear up
on the breast of his uniform at least
four medals which tell stories of the
most distinguished conduct in the face
of an enemy and personal bravery.
Were the stories woven about each
medal to be told in detail they would
read like romances. But, as shown
above, they tell the story of the hero
ism of an American naval officer, who,
whenever called upon to show his met
tie, has never failed to stand the test.
One of the medals of which the COM
mander should be proud was awarded
for feats which were graphically de-
scribed in the newspapers of the
United States when the American fleet !
was girdling the Island of Cuba at the I
outbreak of the Spanish War. Com |
mander Lucien Young is the only |
American naval officer who has the
right to wear the type of medal shown
on the right of the cut. 1t has four
bars, the only medal of the kind in
existence, for even Admirals Sampson
and Schley had only one bar to their
credit. The name of the gu. S. S.
Hist appears in bold relief. That
ial,
Lucien Young was in command of
when, as commanding officer of the
yunboat fotilla, he entered the bay of
where the Spanish guns /
olazed at the fleet at close quarters.
The Hist was struck eleven times dur
ng that battle ana one shell exploded
n the engine-room. The conclusion of
me explosion knocked Commander I
Dung down, but strange to say no 9
me was hurt aboard the little vessel. -.
The Hist has the honor of being the
American vessel that was struck more
ines during the Spanish War than any
,ther vessel in the navy.
The other bar tells of the officer 8
presence at the battle of Santiago.
Zach bar represents a recognized bat
lie. as determined by the Navy depart
nent. There were three fights at Man
anillo and. one at Santiago.
The medal to the left of the high
st medal" is made of gold, and was
warded Lucien Young by act of Con-
ress for the personal heroism he dis
laved at the time the U. S. S. Huron
yas wrecked on the Atlantic coast IN
s77. He was an ensign then. During
storm the vessel was wrecked and
he only way to safety lay in line be-
no carried ashore, or that some one
ct ashore and get help. Lucien Young
-as the young officer who volunteered
,r this service. Overheard he went
ITO the boiling sea, and for eight and
ne-half hours he was buffeted by the
,as in swimming four miles. He reach
I shore, got help and everybody
board the warship was saved. The
axt medal is also of gold, and was
xarded him by the State of New
ork for an act of bravery which con-
sted in his jumping overheard from
10 L. s. S. Alaska in the Mediter-
moan TO save a sailor who had fallen
yerboard.5 Lucien Young, after long
ruoqle managed to keep the man
1oat until assistance arrived and
,th were brought on board safely
The next medal is one of five med
9. Only FIVE American naval officers
q entitled to wear them, and Com
ander Young is the head of the list.
ne medal represents the Naval Order
the United States, of which he Is
,mmander. 1t was awarded for gen.
al service in the Spanish War.
The medal at the extreme left IN the
eture is the genera. service medal