Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1915-04-28

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~ N the afternoon of Jan. 6, 1914,
there were assembled on the
quarterback of the United
States ship Florida in the pres
ence of the secretary of the navy, the
commander in chief Of the United
States Atlantic feet, his staff, the cap
tains and officers Of vessels then In
port and hundreds of their comrades
Of the ranks, who had shared their dan
gers and borne with patience months
Of tedious duty in tropical cline,
thirteen Of the fourteen enlisted men
o. the navy who so distinguished them
selves under fire at Vera Cruz that
they were to receive the much priced
medal Of honor. It was the tribute of
the country, voiced by that branch of
the service in which they served, for
their meritorious conduct when put to
the severest test. In addressing our
newest heroes at the presentation ex-
ercises Secretary Daniels said:
"The medals presented today are
tokens of grateful country's appre-
citation of work nobly done, of duty
well performed, of readiness to face
grave danger. They are given to men
who by their conduct under fire have
won renown not only for themselves,
but for their companions in arms, their
comrades who, while hoping for op-
portunities for themselves, yet rejoice
in the good fortune of their shipmates
In being where the fight was thickest,
the field of service greatest, for that Is
the ambition of men bearing arms.
And that is one Of the most pleasing
elements in the qualification we feel
today-this readiness to extend the
merit and the honor to all who wear
the uniform.
"You know that the signal most
priced in the feet is the one flying
from the flagship telling, with its let
tiers Of many colors, that something
has been well done,' and that, while
some particular one, perhaps, has won
1t, yet the honor is for the ship and all
its crew Of officers and men whose
teamwork has made the winning pos
sible.
'"The bluejacket! Let us take off our
hats to him in the street, for his uni
form is the blue badge of courage;
take him by the hand, for his hand
protects our homes; treat him with
respect, for he rings true, and his heart
Is Of the finest gold"
The medal of honor is the highest rec
ognitfon any American can receive from
his government. All fourteen who re-
ceived the medal Of honor received also
a gratuity of $1O0. Thirteen of them
were advanced six months ago to the
next higher rating, and the fourteenth
man was given permission to partici-
pate in the next examinations for war
rant officer.
All f1fty-two of the other enlisted
men who distinguished themselves less
only than those awarded the medal
Of honor received letters of common
dation from the navy department. Six
were allowed to participate in the next
examination for warrant officer, and
forty-six were Immediately advanced
to the next higher rating than they
then held.
Such are the substantial rewards the
navy accords her heroes. These are,
however, symbols of recognition for
services that are unusual, caused gen.
orally by circumstances we strive ear
nestly to avoid. Through the dispen-
sation of a protecting Providence we
seldom have had to brave the dan
gers of the sword, and in the annals
Of our history the peace hero vies for
distinction with the hero baptized by
fire.
But before relating how Uncle Sam
rewards the peace hero let us see what |
happens to his naval employees who |
acquit themselves with credit in the or
binary functions of their profession.
Extended service Is Recognized with