Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-01-09
TO RECEIVE REWARD
Medal of Honor to Be, Given to
Capt. Church.
WHITE HOUSE CEREMONY
Performance of a Long Delayed Act
of Justice.
BRAVERY AT LAS GUAsIMAS
Wounded Comrades Borne From the
Field Under Fire-Recommenda-
tions Kept in Pigeon Hole.
BRAVERY AT LAS GUAsIMAS
BY WILLIAM E. CURTIS.

ID "bfiAiaa Il. NOR1is
Written for The Star and the Chicago Record.
Herald.
Tomorrow President Roosevelt will per-
form a long-delayed act of justice by con-
ferring a medal of honor upon Surgeon
Captain James Robb Church of the Medi-
cal Corps of the army for distinguished
gallantry during the battle of Las Quasi
mas Cuba, June a, 1898. Capt. Church
was one OF the surgeons of the Rough
Riders, and although his heroism on that
occasion was described by every newspa-
per correspondent in Cuba, was commended
in the report of his commanding officers
and forms one of the most interesting
chapters in almost every book that has
been written about the war with Spain, it
has never received official recognition from
the government of the United States. And
now, almost eight years after the act. he is
to receive an acknowledgements and his
name is to be placed upon the hero roll of
the nation.
The public, to a large extent, and the
army almost unanimously, lack confidence
In the accuracy and justice OF that roll of
heroes. Medals Of honor at one time be-
came very cheap. The list of men who have
received them fills 153 printed pages. folio
size, and, in the opinion OF many officers,
might be considerably reduced without do
ing Injustice. Indeed, medals of honor be-
came so common at one time tnat the late
Capt John G. Bourke, who was chief of
staff for Gen. Crook IN nearly all his In
dian campaigns, returned his medal to the
Secretary of War. In explanation OF that
remarkable act he wrote a sarcastic let
ter, saying that as the medals were now
granted because of political pull and So
cisl influence, he did not consider himself
justly entitled to one.
Medals Sometimes Carelessly Given.
Medals of honor were granted to MEM
bers of President Lincolns faithful body
guard and to the escort which accompanied
his remains to Springfield, H., sin testf-
mony of faithful and exemplary conduct"
Medals of honor, S64 In number. We're is
sued to all OF the members Of the 9th
Maine Infantry. The term OF service OF
that regiment being about to expire at
time when the city of Washington was ex-
posed to attack from confederate raiders
about 500 officers and enlisted men volun-
teered to remain at Arlington Heights until
the result of the battle of Gettysburg was
known. They saw no service, however. and
We're sent home July 4. The rest of the
regiment, which refused to remain for the
protection of Washington, was sent home
July 1. The entire regiment was mustered
out July Is, 1868. Through the influence of
the members of Congress from that state
everybody-those who refused to remain, as
well as those who remained-was given a
medal.
A large number of medals were granted
to gallant soldiers in the Union army dur
ing the civil war for capturing battle flags,
for leading charges and for other service
which would ordinarily be expected of a
soldier. Several officers were SO rewarded
for "rallying their troops while under fire.
others for Goodness and bravery in ac-
ton" for GOODNESS and good Judgment in
action and large number for ordinary
bravery in action as II such conduct
We're not part of soldiers duty while the
medals OF honor were originally intended as
a reward for extraordinary deeds of daring
and heroic services of a conspicuous and
unusual character.
One of the stories concerning the medals
relates to a politician of some notoriety
who was at one time a member of the judge
advocate generals corps. 1t is said that
having had list of officers to whom medals
had been awarded sent to him in order to
prepare letter of transmittal to the Presi-
dent, he inserted his own name in alphabet
ical order, and now wears medal for dis
tinguished services performed during the
civil war; without giving the date or place.
After the reorganiza ton of the army the
general staff decided TO introduce some
much needed reforms in the medal of honor
business, and President Roosevelt very cor
daily supported the proposition. For the
purpose of emphasizing the value and add
ing to the Importance of the act, he issued
an order. on the Goth of last September.
providing that hereafter all medals of honor
awarded to officers or enlisted men of the
army should be conferred in person by the
formal and impressive ceremonies When
practicable the recipient is to be ordered to
Washington. and when not practicable to
have the presentation here the details OF
time place and ceremony will be pre-
scribed by the chief of AFT for each case"
The Presidents innovation.
The medal awarded to DR.. Church will be
presented in the blue room at the White
House tomorrow by the President and Sec
haff
Gen. Reilly and other officers of high rank
will be present in full-dress uniform. THIS
will be the first opportunity to carry out
the order of the President, and a new
precedent will be Established Hitherto the
medals have been forwarded by mali or ex-
press. The President is taking active
interest in the arrangements. because DR..
Church was the surgeon Of his own regi-
ment and the act of gallantry for which
he Is to be rewarded occurred under his
own command. although he was on diff
ferent part of the field at the time and did
not actually witness 1t.
The order of the Secretary of War, dated
December II, 1905, announces that the
medal of honor is conferred on James Robb
Church for most distinguished gallantry
at Las GuaSimas. Cuba, June "a, 1893" ''On
this OCCASION" the order explains, Capt
Church who was then serving assistant
surgeon in the LIST United States Volunteer
Cavalry in addition to performing gallant
ly the regular duties pertaining to his posi-
tion voluntarily and unaided carried several
severely wounded men from the firing line
to a secure position In the rear, in each in
stance being subjected to a very heavy fire
and great exposure and danger
Recognition Long Delayed.
1t is impossible to ascertain why this gall
LIANT action was not recognized long ago.
great many brevets and medals have been
conferred upon officers and soldiers who
participated In the Spanish war. Among
the recipients are Gen. J. Franklin Bell,
Gen. Frederick Funston and Gen. Albert L.
Mills. superintendent of the Military Acad-
envy. Capt. Hardaway of the 18th Infantry
and several others have received medals
for precisely the same service performed
by Capt. Church, that Is. rescuing wounded
comrades from the firing line The only
explanation I have been able to get at the
War Department is that Capt. Church is so
modest that he has not urged his claims and
that M ,na o{aa ha tn intareSt euof,Ob