302 Awards Compiled & Edited By C. Douglas Sterner

(Second Award)

Major, U.S. Marine Corps

Commanding Officer of Marines and Seamen, 2d Marines, U.S.S. Connecticut

Date of Action: November 17, 1915

Citation:

The Medal of Honor is presented to Smedley Darlington Butler, Major, U.S. Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism in action as Commanding Officer of detachments from the 5th, 13th, 23d Companies and the Marine and sailor detachment from the U.S.S. Connecticut, Major Butler led the attack on Fort Riviere, Haiti, 17 November 1915. Following a concentrated drive, several different detachments of Marines gradually closed in on the old French bastion fort in an effort to cut off all avenues of retreat for the Caco bandits. Reaching the fort on the southern side where there was a small opening in the wall, Major Butler gave the signal to attack and Marines from the 15th Company poured through the breach, engaged the Cacos in hand-to-hand combat, took the bastion and crushed the Caco resistance. Throughout this perilous action, Major Butler was conspicuous for his bravery and forceful leadership.

Born: 7/30/1881 at West Chester, Pennsylvania

Home Town: West Chester, Pennsylvania

Other Award: 1st Medal of Honor (Vera Cruz), Brevet Medal (China)

Smedley Butler is one of TWO Marines who received two Medals of Honor for separate actions. With his award of the Marine Corps Brevet Medal, a briefly issued award considered on par with the Medal of Honor, he could technically be called the only TRIPLE recipient of the Medal of Honor.

Daly, Daniel Joseph

(Second Award)

Gunnery Sergeant, U.S. Marine Corps

15th Company (Mounted), 2d Marines,

Date of Action: October 24, 1915

Citation:

The Medal of Honor is presented to Daniel Joseph Daly, Gunnery Sergeant, U.S. Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with the 15th Company of Marines (Mounted), 2d Marine Regiment, on 22 October 1915. Gunnery Sergeant Daly was one of the company to leave Fort Liberte, Haiti, for a six-day reconnaissance. After dark on the evening of 24 October, while crossing the river in a deep ravine, the detachment was suddenly fired upon from three sides by about 400 Cacos concealed in bushes about 100 yards from the fort. The Marine detachment fought its way forward to a good position, which it maintained during the night, although subjected to a continuous fire from the Cacos. At daybreak the Marines, in three squads, advanced in three different directions, surprising and scattering the Cacos in all directions. Gunnery Sergeant Daly fought with exceptional gallantry against heavy odds throughout this action.

Born: 11/11/1873 at Glen Cove, New York

Home Town: Brooklyn, New York

Other Award: 2d Medal of Honor (Boxer Rebellion), Navy Cross (WWI), Distinguished Service Cross (Same Action)

Daniel Daly is one of TWO Marines who received two Medals of Honor for separate actions.

Gross, Samuel

Private, U.S. Marine Corps

23d Company (Mounted), 2d Marines,

Date of Action: November 17, 1915

Citation:

The Medal of Honor is presented to Samuel Gross, Private, U.S. Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism in action at Fort Riviere, Haiti. In company with members of the 5th, 13th, 23d Companies and the Marine and sailor detachment from the U.S.S. Connecticut. Private Gross participated in the attack on Fort Riviere, Haiti, 17 November 1915. Following a concentrated drive, several different detachments of Marines gradually closed in on the old French bastion fort in an effort to cut off all avenues of retreat for the Caco bandits. Approaching a breach in the wall which was the only entrance to the fort, Gross was the second man to pass through the breach in the face of constant fire from the Cacos and, thereafter, for a 10-minute period, engaged the enemy in desperate hand-to-hand combat until the bastion was captured and Caco resistance neutralized.

Born: 5/9/1891 at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Home Town: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Iams, Ross Lindsey

Sergeant, U.S. Marine Corps

5th Company (Mounted), 2d Marines,

Date of Action: November 17, 1915

Citation:

The Medal of Honor is presented to Ross Lindsey Iams, Sergeant, U.S. Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism in action at Fort Riviere, Haiti. In company with members of the 5th, 13th, 23d Companies and Marine and sailor detachment from the U.S.S. Connecticut, Sergeant Iams participated in the attack on Fort Riviere, Haiti, 17 November 1915. Following a concentrated drive, several different detachments of Marines gradually closed in on the old French bastion fort in an effort to cut off all avenues of retreat for the Caco bandits. Approaching a breach in the wall which was the only entrance to the fort, Sergeant Iams unhesitatingly jumped through the breach despite constant fire from the Cacos and engaged the enemy in a desperate hand-to-hand combat until the bastion was captured and Caco resistance neutralized.

Born: 5/5/1881 at Graysville, Pennsylvania

Home Town: Graysville, Pennsylvania

Ostermann, Edward Albert

First Lieutenant, U.S. Marine Corps

15th Company (Mounted), 2d Marines,

Date of Action: October 24, 1915

Citation:

The Medal of Honor is presented to Edward Albert Ostermann, First Lieutenant, U.S. Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism in action at Fort Dipitie, Haiti. In company with members of the 15th Company of Marines, all mounted, First Lieutenant Ostermann left Fort Liberte, Haiti, for a six-day reconnaissance. After dark on the evening of 24 October 1915, while crossing the river in a deep ravine, the detachment was suddenly fired upon from three sides by about 400 Cacos concealed in bushes about 100 yards from the fort. The Marine detachment fought its way forward to a good position, which it maintained during the night, although subjected to a continuous fire from the Cacos. At daybreak, First Lieutenant Ostermann, in command of one of the three squads which advanced in three different directions, led his men forward, surprising and scattering the Cacos, and aiding in the capture of Fort Dipitie.

Born: 11/23/1882 at Columbus, Ohio

Home Town: Columbus, Ohio

Upshur, William Peterkin

Captain, U.S. Marine Corps

15th Company (Mounted), 2d Marines,

Date of Action: October 24, 1915

Citation:

The Medal of Honor is presented to William Peterkin Upshur, Captain, U.S. Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism in action at Fort Dipitie, Haiti. In company with members of the 15th Company of Marines, all mounted, Captain Upshur left Fort Liberte, Haiti, for a six-day reconnaissance. After dark on the evening of 24 October 1915, while crossing the river in a deep ravine, the detachment was suddenly fired upon from three sides by about 400 Cacos concealed in bushes about 100 yards from the fort. The Marine detachment fought its way forward to a good position which it maintained during the night, although subjected to a continuous fire from the Cacos. At daybreak, Captain Upshur, in command of one of the three squads which advanced in three different directions led his men forward, surprising and scattering the Cacos, and aiding in the capture of Fort Dipitie.

Born: 10/28/1881 at Richmond, Virginia

Home Town: Richmond, Virginia