The Boxer Movement, or Boxer Rebellion, was a Chinese uprising from November 1899 to September 7, 1901, 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).[1]
The members of the Chinese Society of Righteous and Harmonious Fists were simply called boxers by the Westerners 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. The Qing commander in chief Ronglu expelled the Boxers from the city.[1] The Qing ordered foreign diplomats and personnel to leave to Tianjin but they refused and stay put in the legation quarter of Beijing.
After the foreign attack at the Battle of Taku Forts (1900) and the foreign invasion in the Seymour Expedition the government of Empress Dowager Cixi ordered the Kansu Braves to surround the foreign diplomats, civilians, soldiers and some Chinese Christians in the legation quarter. The "siege" lasted 55 days until a multinational coalition rushed 20,000 troops to their rescue in the Gaselee Expedition. The Chinese government was forced to indemnify 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 and the establishment of the modern Chinese Republic.[1]
The Medal of Honor was created during the American Civil War and 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 posthumously.[2]
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.[3]
| Image | Name | Service | Rank | Place of action | Date of action | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marine Corps | "[For] distinguishing himself by meritorious conduct" | ||||||
| Marine Corps | "[For] distinguishing himself by meritorious conduct"[4] | ||||||
| Navy | China | and – | "[For] distinguishing himself by meritorious conduct" | ||||
| Marine Corps | Tianjin, China | "[A]ssisted in destroying buildings occupied by the enemy" | |||||
| Marine Corps | Beijing, China | – | "[A]ssisted in the erection of barricades" | ||||
| Army | Tianjin, China | "While under fire rescued two of his men from drowning" | |||||
| Marine Corps | Tianjin, China | "[A]ssisted in destroying buildings occupied by hostile forces" | |||||
| Marine Corps | Tianjin, China | For distinguishing himself by his conduct during the advance on Tientsin | |||||
| Marine Corps | Beijing, China | – | For distinguishing himself by his conduct in the presence of the enemy | ||||
| Navy | China | and – | For distinguishing himself by his conduct in the presence of the enemy. | ||||
| Navy | China | and – | For distinguishing himself by his conduct in the presence of the enemy. | ||||
| Marine Corps | "[For] distinguishing himself by meritorious conduct" | ||||||
| Marine Corps | Beijing, China | – | "[For] distinguishing himself by meritorious conduct" | ||||
| Marine Corps | Beijing, China | For distinguishing himself by meritorious conduct. Later awarded a second Medal of Honor for action in Haiti in 1915.[5] | |||||
| Marine Corps | Beijing, 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. | ||||
| Marine Corps | "[For] distinguishing himself by meritorious conduct" | ||||||
| Marine Corps | "[For] distinguishing himself by meritorious conduct" | ||||||
| Marine Corps | Beijing, China | – | "[For] distinguishing himself by meritorious conduct" | ||||
| Navy | China | and – | "[For] distinguishing himself by meritorious conduct" | ||||
| Navy | China | and – | "[D]istinguished himself by meritorious conduct" | ||||
| Navy | China | and – | "[D]istinguished himself by meritorious conduct | ||||
| Marine Corps | Tianjin, China | He crossed the river in a small boat while under heavy enemy fire and assisted in destroying buildings occupied by the enemy | |||||
| Navy | China | and – | "[D]istinguished himself by meritorious conduct" | ||||
| Marine Corps | Beijing, China | – | "[A]assisted in the erection of barricades" | ||||
| Marine Corps | Beijing, China | – | "[For] distinguishing himself by meritorious conduct" | ||||
| Marine Corps | Tianjin, China | "[For] distinguishing himself by meritorious conduct" | |||||
| Navy | China | and – | "[D]istinguished himself by meritorious conduct" | ||||
| Army | Tianjin, China | Carried a message and guided reinforcements across a wide and fireswept space, during which he was wounded three times | |||||
| Marine Corps | Tianjin, China | "[For] distinguishing himself by meritorious conduct" | |||||
| Navy | Tianjin, China | Crossed the river in a small boat and assisted in destroying buildings occupied by the enemy | |||||
| Navy | China | and – | Later awarded a second Medal of Honor for action in Mexico in 1915. | ||||
| Navy | Beijing, China | "[For] distinguishing himself by meritorious conduct" | |||||
| Marine Corps | Beijing, China | – | Assisted in the erection of barricades under a heavy fire from the enemy | ||||
| Marine Corps | Beijing, China | – | "[For] distinguishing himself by meritorious conduct" | ||||
| Marine Corps | Beijing, China | – | "[D]istinguished himself by meritorious conduct" Served under the name of Henry W. Davis. | ||||
| Marine Corps | China | and – | "[D]istinguished himself by meritorious conduct" | ||||
| Navy | Beijing, China | – | "[D]istinguished himself by meritorious conduct" | ||||
| Marine Corps | China | and – | For distinguishing himself by meritorious conduct in the presence of the enemy | ||||
| Marine Corps | Beijing, China | – | "[For] distinguishing himself by meritorious conduct" | ||||
| Navy | Beijing, China | and – | For his actions during the China Relief Expedition | ||||
| Navy | China | and – | "[D]istinguished himself by meritorious conduct" | ||||
| Marine Corps | Beijing, China | – | "[For] distinguishing himself by meritorious conduct" | ||||
| Navy | China | and – | Along with six others repulsed an attack by 300 Chinese Imperialist soldiers and Boxer militants with a bayonet charge | ||||
| Marine Corps | Beijing, China | – | "[For] distinguishing himself by meritorious conduct" | ||||
| Navy | China | and – | In the presence of the enemy he distinguished himself by meritorlous conduct | ||||
| Navy | China | and – | In the presence of the enemy he distinguished himself by meritorious conduct | ||||
| Navy | Beijing, China | Volunteered to carry messages under fire | |||||
| Marine Corps | China | and – | In the presence of the enemy he distinguished himself by meritorious conduct | ||||
| Marine Corps | Tianjin, China | Although under heavy fire from the enemy he assisted in carrying a wounded officer from the field of battle | |||||
| Navy | China | and – | "[D]distinguished himself by meritorious conduct" | ||||
| Army | Beijing, China | Gallant and daring conduct in the presence of the men of his regiment and was the first to scale the wall of the city. | |||||
| Navy | China | and – | "[D]istinguished himself by meritorious conduct" | ||||
| Marine Corps | Beijing, China | – | "[A]ssisted in the erection of barricades" | ||||
| Army | Tianjin, 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 Corps | Beijing, China | – | "[For] distinguishing himself by meritorious conduct" | ||||
| Navy | Beijing, China | – | "[For] distinguishing himself by meritorious conduct" | ||||
| Navy | China | and – | Distinguished himself by meritorious conduct while serving with the relief expedition | ||||
| Marine Corps | Beijing, China | – | "[For] distinguishing himself by meritorious conduct" | ||||
| Marine Corps | Beijing, China | – | "[For] distinguishing himself by meritorious conduct" |