List of Medal of Honor recipients for the Boxer Rebellion

The Boxer Movement or Boxer Rebellion was a Chinese uprising from November 1899 to September 7, 1901. It was against foreign influence in areas such as trade, politics, religion and technology that occurred in China during the final years of the Manchu rule (Qing Dynasty).

The members of the Chinese Society of Righteous and Harmonious Fists were simply called boxers by the Westerners. This was due to the martial arts and calisthenics they practiced. It began as an anti-foreign, anti-imperialist, peasant-based movement that attacked foreigners who were building railroads and violating Feng shui. Christians who they felt were responsible for foreign domination of China were also targeted. In June 1900, the Boxers invaded Beijing and killed 230 non-Chinese. Before it ended, tens of thousands of Chinese Christians, Catholic and Protestants were killed. Most of them in the Shandong and Shanxi provinces.

The government of Empress Dowager Cixi gave her support to the boxers. This caused foreign diplomats, civilians, soldiers and even some Chinese Christians to retreat. They went to the legation quarter. They held out against the boxers for 55 days. A multinational coalition rushed 20,000 troops to their rescue. The Chinese government was forced to compensate the victims and make many additional concessions. Subsequent reforms implemented after the crisis of 1900 laid the foundation for the end of the Qing Dynasty. It establishment of the modern Chinese Republic.

The Medal of Honor was created during the American Civil War. It is the highest military decoration presented by the United States government to a member of its armed forces. The recipients must have distinguished themselves at the risk of their own life above and beyond the call of duty in action against an enemy of the United States. Due to the nature of this medal it is commonly presented after the recipient has been killed (posthumously).

During the Boxer rebellion, 59 American servicemen received the Medal of Honor for their actions. Four of these were for Army personnel, twenty-two went to navy sailors and the remaining thirty-three went to marines.  Harry Fisher was the first Marine to receive the medal posthumously and the only posthumous recipient for this conflict.

Recipients

Image Name Service Rank Place of action Date of actionNotesMarine Corps"[For] distinguishing himself by meritorious conduct"Marine Corps"[For] distinguishing himself by meritorious conduct"NavyChina and  – "[For] distinguishing himself by meritorious conduct"Marine CorpsTianjin, China"[A]ssisted in destroying buildings occupied by the enemy"Marine CorpsBeijing, China – "[A]ssisted in the erection of barricades"ArmyTianjin, China"While under fire rescued two of his men from drowning"Marine CorpsTianjin, China"[A]ssisted in destroying buildings occupied by hostile forces"Marine CorpsTianjin, ChinaFor distinguishing himself by his conduct during the advance on TientsinMarine CorpsBeijing, China – For distinguishing himself by his conduct in the presence of the enemyNavyChina and  – For distinguishing himself by his conduct in the presence of the enemy.NavyChina and  – For distinguishing himself by his conduct in the presence of the enemy.Marine Corps"[For] distinguishing himself by meritorious conduct"Marine CorpsBeijing, China – "[For] distinguishing himself by meritorious conduct"75px|alt=Head and shoulders of a white man wearing a cap and a jacket with stripes on the upper sleeves, one medal pinned to the left breast, and two identical star–shaped medals hanging from ribbons around his neck.Marine CorpsBeijing, ChinaFor distinguishing himself by meritorious conduct. Later awarded a second Medal of Honor for action in Haiti in 1915.Marine CorpsBeijing, China – True name: Franklin J. Phillips (enlisted under alias); previously served in the U.S. Army. First US Marine to receive Medal of Honor posthumously.75px|alt=Head of a white man with brown hair and a drooping mustache wearing a blue military jacket. The man is looking off to the side.Marine Corps"[For] distinguishing himself by meritorious conduct"Marine Corps"[For] distinguishing himself by meritorious conduct"Marine CorpsBeijing, China – "[For] distinguishing himself by meritorious conduct"NavyChina and  – "[For] distinguishing himself by meritorious conduct"NavyChina and  – "[D]istinguished himself by meritorious conduct"NavyChina and  – "[D]istinguished himself by meritorious conductMarine CorpsTianjin, ChinaHe crossed the river in a small boat while under heavy enemy fire and assisted in destroying buildings occupied by the enemyNavyChina and  – "[D]istinguished himself by meritorious conduct"75px|alt=Head and shoulders of a young white man wearing a cap pushed high up on his forehead and a plain military jacket with a star–shaped medal hanging from a ribbon pinned to his left breast.Marine CorpsBeijing, China – "[A]assisted in the erection of barricades"Marine CorpsBeijing, China – "[For] distinguishing himself by meritorious conduct"Marine CorpsTianjin, China"[For] distinguishing himself by meritorious conduct"NavyChina and  – "[D]istinguished himself by meritorious conduct"75px|alt=Head of a young white man with neatly combed hair wearing a jacket with lines of decorative piping running horizontally across the chest.ArmyTianjin, ChinaCarried a message and guided reinforcements across a wide and fireswept space, during which he was wounded three timesMarine CorpsTianjin, China"[For] distinguishing himself by meritorious conduct"NavyTianjin, ChinaCrossed the river in a small boat and assisted in destroying buildings occupied by the enemyNavyChina and  – Later awarded a second Medal of Honor for action in Mexico in 1915.NavyBeijing, China"[For] distinguishing himself by meritorious conduct"Marine CorpsBeijing, China – Assisted in the erection of barricades under a heavy fire from the enemyMarine CorpsBeijing, China – "[For] distinguishing himself by meritorious conduct"Marine CorpsBeijing, China – "[D]istinguished himself by meritorious conduct" Served under the name of Henry W. Davis.Marine CorpsChina and  – "[D]istinguished himself by meritorious conduct"NavyBeijing, China – "[D]istinguished himself by meritorious conduct"Marine CorpsChina and  – For distinguishing himself by meritorious conduct in the presence of the enemyMarine CorpsBeijing, China – "[For] distinguishing himself by meritorious conduct"75px|alt=A white man sitting relaxed in a wicker chair. He is wearing a white cap, light–colored pants, and a dark jacket with four round medals on the left breast and a star–shaped medal around the neck.NavyBeijing, China and  – For his actions during the China Relief ExpeditionNavyChina and  – "[D]istinguished himself by meritorious conduct"Marine CorpsBeijing, China – "[For] distinguishing himself by meritorious conduct"NavyChina and  – Along with six others repulsed an attack by 300 Chinese Imperialist soldiers and Boxer militants with a bayonet chargeMarine CorpsBeijing, China – "[For] distinguishing himself by meritorious conduct"NavyChina and  – In the presence of the enemy he distinguished himself by meritorlous conductNavyChina and  – In the presence of the enemy he distinguished himself by meritorious conduct75px|alt=Head and shoulders of a white man with a thin, upturned mustache wearing a white peaked cap with black visor and a white jacket with dark shoulder boards, a row of medals on the left breast, and a star–shaped medal hanging from the neck.NavyBeijing, ChinaVolunteered to carry messages under fireMarine CorpsChina and  – In the presence of the enemy he distinguished himself by meritorious conductMarine CorpsTianjin, ChinaAlthough under heavy fire from the enemy he assisted in carrying a wounded officer from the field of battleNavyChina and  – "[D]distinguished himself by meritorious conduct"ArmyBeijing, ChinaGallant and daring conduct in the presence of the men of his regiment and was the first to scale the wall of the city.NavyChina and  – "[D]istinguished himself by meritorious conduct"Marine CorpsBeijing, China – "[A]ssisted in the erection of barricades"ArmyTianjin, China"Although previously wounded while carrying a wounded comrade to a place of safety, rejoined his command, which partly occupied an exposed position upon a dike, remaining there after his command had been withdrawn, singly keeping up the fire, and obliviously presenting himself as a conspicuous target until he was literally shot off his position by the enemy."Marine CorpsBeijing, China – "[For] distinguishing himself by meritorious conduct"NavyBeijing, China – "[For] distinguishing himself by meritorious conduct"NavyChina and  – Distinguished himself by meritorious conduct while serving with the relief expeditionMarine CorpsBeijing, China – "[For] distinguishing himself by meritorious conduct"Marine CorpsBeijing, China – "[For] distinguishing himself by meritorious conduct"

References
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Further reading

Boxer Rebellion