Hiram I. Bearss
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| Hiram Iddings Bearss | |
|---|---|
| April 13, 1875 - August 28, 1938 | |
  Medal of Honor recipient Hiram I. Bearss |
|
| Nickname | "Hiking Hiram" |
| Place of birth | Peru, Indiana |
| Allegiance | USMC |
| Years of service | 1898-1919 |
| Rank | Colonel (advanced to Brigadier General in 1936) |
| Commands | 102nd Infantry 51st Brigade 3rd Provisional Regiment, 2nd Provisional Brigade, 3rd Marines 57th Infantry Brigade |
| Battles/wars | Philippine-American War World War I Battle of Belleau Wood Battle of Saint-Mihiel |
| Awards | Medal of Honor (1901) Distinguished Service Cross (1918) Croix de Guerre |
Hiram Iddings Bearss (13 April 1875 – August 28, 1938) was an officer of the United States Marine Corps who was awarded the Medal of Honor for heroism during the Philippine-American War and the Distinguished Service Cross for his valor in World War I.
Bearss was born 13 April 1875 in Peru, Indiana.
During World War I, Bearss served in France with the 4th Marine Brigade, and commanded the 102nd Infantry at Marcheville in 1918, for which he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross.
Colonel Bearss died in 1938 in an automobile collision.
In 1943, the destroyer USS Bearss (DD-654) was named in his honor.
[edit] Medal of Honor
Medal of Honor citation:
- For extraordinary heroism and eminent and conspicuous conduct in battle at the junction of the Cadacan and Sohoton Rivers, Samar, P. I., November 17, 1901. Colonel Bearss, then Captain, second in command of the column upon their uniting ashore in the Sohoton region, made a surprise attack on the fortified cliffs and capturing and destroying a powder magazine, 40 lantacas (guns), rice, food and cuartels. Due to his courage, intelligence, discrimination and zeal, he successfully led his men up the cliffs [by] means of bamboo ladders to a height of 200 feet. The cliffs were of soft stone of volcanic origin, in the nature of pumice and were honeycombed with caves. Tons of rocks were suspended in platforms held in position by vine cables (known as bejuco) in readiness to be precipitated upon people below. After driving the insurgents from their position which was almost impregnable, being covered with numerous trails lined with poisoned spears, pits, etc., he led his men across the river, scaled the cliffs on the opposite side, and destroyed the camps there. He and the men under his command overcame incredible difficulties and dangers in destroying positions which according to reports from old prisoners, had taken three years to perfect, were held as a final rallying point, and were never before penetrated by white troops. Captain Bearss also rendered distinguished public service in the presence of the enemy at Quinapundan River, Samar, P. I., on January 19, 1902.
[edit] References
- Medal of Honor citation for Captain Bearss
- Clark, George B. Hiram Iddings Bearss, U.S. Marine Corps: Biography of a World War I Hero, McFarland & Company, 2005. (ISBN 0-7864-2111-8)
- Hiram I. Bearss, Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.
- Clark, George B. "Hiram I. Bearss Marine", Leatherneck, January 31, 2006.
- Frank, Benis M. "A Brief History of the 3rd Marines, Historical Branch, United States Marines Corps, 1958.
[edit] Further reading
- Clark, George C. His Road to Glory: The Life and Times of "Hiking Hiram" Bearss, Hoosier Marine, 2003
Categories: 1875 births | 1938 deaths | American military personnel of World War I | Marine Corps Medal of Honor recipients | People from Indiana | People of the Philippine-American War | Recipients of US Distinguished Service Cross | United States Marine Corps officers | Norwich University alumni | American road accident victims
