Kitsap Veterans Life, November 06, 2015

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The Voice for Kitsap County’s Veterans, Active-Duty Personnel,

and their Families

Veterans Life

KitsapVeteransLife.com

November 2015

‘For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty’

The Medal of Honor

Kitsap recipients of the nation’s highest military honor

boilers at which time he was surrounded on all sides by the rebels and forced to surrender.”

BOXER REBELLION SGT. WILLIAM C. HORTON, USMC (1876-1969): For heroism during the American Chinese Relief Expedition, Peking, China, Aug. 17, 1900. A private at the time, he kept the flag flying during combat at the Tartar Wall. Presented the Medal of Honor aboard the USS Oregon in Bremerton. Barracks at Naval Base Kitsap — Bangor are named in his honor. Born in Chicago, interred in Seattle. CITATION “In action against the enemy at Peking, China, 21 July to 17 August 1900. Although under heavy fire from the enemy, Horton assisted in the erection of barricades.”

By RICHARD WALKER

V

Veterans Life

eterans Day is Nov. 11. Initially established as Armistice Day to commemorate the end of The Great War — the “war to end all wars” — on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918, it has since become a day to honor all of America’s veterans for their love of country and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good. In observance of Veterans Day, Veterans Life profiles Kitsap County veterans who received the nation’s highest military honor, the Medal of Honor. One received the medal for heroism during the Civil War, one during the Boxer Rebellion, two during peacetime, five during World War II, one during the Korean War, and one during Vietnam. Here are their stories (with thanks to Congressional Medal of Honor Society and the Semancik Foundation).

CIVIL WAR QM JOHN H. NIBBE, USN (1847-1902): For heroism during the capture of the steamer

VETERANS DAY Ceremony planned at fairgrounds 2

PEACETIME On July 19, 1968. Sgt. William C. Horton, USMC ret., was the oldest living Marine Medal of Honor winner when he presented to the Marine Corps the 44-star flag he raised over the American Legation during the Boxer Rebellion in Peking in 1900. Accepting the flag is Lt. Col. Henry M. Robinette, Commanding Officer, MARTD, NAS Sandpoint, Seattle. Orders and Medals Society of America

USS Petrel on the Yazoo River, April 22, 1864. Born in Hamburg, Germany; arrived on Bainbridge Island in 1867. Sailing master, storekeeper and postmaster in early Kitsap County. Interred at Ivy Green Cemetery, Bremerton.

CITATION “Served as quartermaster on board the U.S.S. Petrel during its capture in Yazoo River, 22 April 1864. Standing his ground when a shot came through the stern, raking the gundeck and

entering and exploding the boilers, when all the others had deserted the flag, Nibbe assisted in getting the wounded off the guard and proceeded to get ready to fire the ship despite the escaping steam from the

HAPPY 240TH A salute to the Corps 6-7

QM DEMETRI CORAHORGI, USN (1880-1973): For heroism when the boiler exploded aboard the USS Iowa on Jan. 25, 1905. He was a fireman 1st class at the time. Born in Trieste, Austria; worked at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard 1907-1924; changed his name to Dan Corey; left his estate to Children’s Orthopedic Hospital. Interred in Mount Pleasant See MEDAL OF HONOR, Page 3


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