Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-01-09
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some five of them on his back and car
ried them under heavy fire. and with
greatest exposure to himself, to the rear.
His services might have been legitimsteiy
ended. for the time being. In giving them
the best possible surgical aid. and such as
sistance as he could render on the spot.
but in addition he performed the duty
above specified. carrying the men several
hundred yards over an elevated ridge IN
the open. displaying in so doing the great
est gallantry and disregard for his own
life. in his efforts to remove the wounded
men to a position of safety where greater
assistance could be furnished them | know
OF no officer engaged In the campaign, at
least none came under my observation.
whose conduct was more deserving OF
recognition by the granting of a medal
OF honor"
Lieut.. Col. Roosevelt wrote as follows:
Il was not an eyewitness of DIR. Church
carrying the wounded men on his back, but
L heard OF 1t from dozen eye-witensses
within half an hour of the occurrence. ana
after the San Juan fighting | saw him
when he had pushed his hospital right up
to the front and taking care of our
wounded men, he himself being sick with
fever at the time. Throughout the remain
der of the siege he continued to do far
more than his duty, although himself often
sick the men he attended. l most
strongly join in the recommendation for
a medal of honor for him. He was one
of the very best men in the regiment
Papers Long Pigeon-Holed.
Gen. Wheeler was enthusiastic In his in
dorsement of the application, and Maj. Gen.
Young takes the trouble to explain why
he did not specially commend Surgeon
Church In his report of the battle. He
says it was his intention to do so, but, as
there were other examples of unusual gal
lantry, he decided to make them all the sub
ject of a special report as soon as be could
obtain the details.
These received at the War
Department April TO- 1899, when somebody
put them in a pigeon-hoie, and there they
lay until about month ago without re-
ceiving any attention whatever.
February g. 1903, Gen. Wood, writing
from the Philippine Islands, called the at
tent,on of the chief-of-staff to them and
renewed his recommendation. This letter
got stuck in the same pigenn-hole On the
I'd OF November. 1905, he wrote again, and
probably that letter would also be lying
peacefully in the archives of the War De-
partment If he had not sent private note
to the President at the same time The
President has been under the impression
that medal of honor was awarded to
Capt. Church seven years ago, when he
and his superior officers recommended it.
and he feels that great injustice has been
done to modest and deserving officer by
the delay. He intends to make it good
however, in a little presentation speech SO
that Capt. Church will not have waited in
vain.
Capt Church is now an assistant surgeon
of the regular army and is stationed at Fort
Robinson, Neb. He was born In Chicago,
but spent most of his younger life IN Wash
ington, where his father AIonzo w Church
has been librarian OF the United States Sen
ate for more than a quarter OF a century
Inc father fs native Of Brattleboro Vt,
but was raised in Georgia where his ia
Their was president OF the University of
Georgia.
Alonzo W. Church graduated from that
institution in 1S4T and In 1852 from It's law
al
IN case county, Ga. He then removed to
Davenport Iowa, where he practiced for
four years until appointed general solicit
tor of the Chicago and Alton abroad at
Chicago. In that capacity he drew the first
contract between any railroad and the Pull
man company for a sleeping car service
Mr.. church remained with the railroad
company Tor fourteen years, when being
disabled by a stroke of paralysis, he was
appointed librarian of the United States
Senate, position which he still holds The
late Mrs. Church was brilliant woman
Her maiden name was Mary Annie Robbins
and she was a native of Lime Rock, Conn.
Capt Church has a brother in Washing
ton, Justice Samuel r. Church. another
ark, N J., and third William Church.
who is engaged in the insurance business
at Pittsburg.
r Capt. Church's Life and Career.
Capt, Church was educated in the public
schools of Washington, graduated with the
class of 'SS at Princeton, where he distin-
guished himself In foot ball and other ath-
letic sports, and took course in medicine
at Columbian University in Washington,
receiving his degree in 1892 He practiced
In this city until the breaking out of the
Spanish war, when he volunteered as sur
geon of the Rough Riders. On December
II, 1888, he was appointed first lieutenant
and assistant surgeon in the regular army,
and August 2, 1903, was promoted to the
Af et,x Il H.
Washington from Fort Robinson to receive
his medal.
Gen. Wood wears medal of honor grant
ed to him many years ago for galantry in
the Apache campaign of 1885, when, &C
cording to the official records. 'he volun-
tarily carried dispatches through a region
infested with hostile Indians, making a
journey of seventy miles In one night, and
walking thirty miles the next day. Also for
several weeks. while In close pursuit of
Geronimo's band and constantly expecting
Of infantry, which was then without
officer. and to the command of which he
was assigned upon his own request"
President Roosevelt's name does not ap-
pear in the list, although there Ia no doubt
of his gallantry In action.
1t Is significant fact that the Victoria
cross, which is considered the highest MILL
tary honor that can be acquired. has often
been conferred upon surgeons, hospital
stewards, nurses and other members of
the medical corps of the British army. /
has received more Victoria crosses than
any other branch of the army, and the list
of persons wearing medals of honor In this
country contains a number of men who won
distinction in the medical service by their
bravery in reseuing the wounded under
fire.
1t is the desire of the President and the
general staff to increase the value OF the
medal of honor much possible, and to
make 1t as rare and as precious as the Vic
toria cross. The present roll cannot be
expurgated. but the sentiment of the army
the future.
pI ANs E0n ACC nGEEMINn