George Harry Rose (February 28, 1880 – December 7, 1932) was a member of the United States Navy and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions during the

China Relief Expedition The China Relief Expedition was an expedition in China undertaken by the United States Armed Forces to rescue United States citizens, European nationals, and other foreign nationals during the latter years of the Boxer Rebellion, which lasted f ...

Biography

Rose enlisted in the Navy from his birth state of Connecticut and served on the cruiser as a

seaman Seaman may refer to: * Sailor, a member of a marine watercraft's crew * Seaman (rank), a military rank in some navies * Seaman (name) (including a list of people with the name) * ''Seaman'' (video game), a 1999 simulation video game for the Seg ...

. During the China Relief Expedition of 1900, ''Newark'', serving as

flagship A flagship is a vessel used by the commanding officer of a group of naval ships, characteristically a flag officer entitled by custom to fly a distinguishing flag. Used more loosely, it is the lead ship in a fleet of vessels, typically the fi ...

for the Assistant Commander of the Asiatic Station, was brought to the Beijing (Peking) area to protect Americans who were under threat from the

Boxer Rebellion The Boxer Rebellion, also known as the Boxer Uprising, the Boxer Insurrection, or the Yihetuan Movement, was an anti-foreign, anti-colonial, and anti-Christian uprising in China between 1899 and 1901, towards the end of the Qing dynasty, by ...

. Rose voluntarily took part in land operations there in May and June 1900, distinguishing himself on several occasions, among them carrying dispatches on June 10, helping to fight off an attack on his unit's baggage train on the 13th, engaging in combat from June 20, to June 22, and obtaining medical supplies from an enemy-held village. For his "meritorious conduct" on 13, 20, 21 and June 22, he was awarded the Medal of Honor by General Order 55, dated July 19, 1901. Rose received a commission as an ensign in the Naval Reserve on March 22, 1917. He served in the Third Naval District ( New York City region) during World War I and was promoted to Lieutenant (junior grade) on September 21, 1918. On July 15, 1929, he became a Lieutenant Commander in the Merchant Marine Naval Reserve. Rose died at age 52 and is buried at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington County, Virginia.

Medal of Honor citation

Seaman Rose's official Medal of Honor citation reads:

''In the presence of the enemy during the battles at Peking, China, 13, 20, 21 and 22 June 1900. Throughout this period, Rose distinguished himself by meritorious conduct. While stationed as a crewmember of the U.S.S. ''Newark'', he was part of its landing force that went ashore off
Taku Taku may refer to: Places North America * the Taku River, in Alaska and British Columbia ** Fort Taku, also known as Fort Durham and as Taku, a former fort of the Hudson's Bay Company near the mouth of the Taku River ** the Taku Glacier, in Ala ...
, China. on 31 May 1900, he was in a party of 6 under John McCloy (MH) which took ammunition from the ''Newark'' to Tientsin. On 10 June 1900, he was one of a party that carried dispatches from LaFa to Yongstsum at night. On the 13th he was one of a few who fought off a large force of the enemy saving the Main baggage train from destruction. On the 20th and 21st he was engaged in heavy fighting against the Imperial Army being always in the first rank. On the 22d he showed gallantry in the capture of the Siku Arsenal. He volunteered to go to the nearby village which was occupied by the enemy to secure medical supplies urgently required. The party brought back the supplies carried by newly taken prisoners.''

References

: * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Rose, George 1880 births 1932 deaths United States Navy personnel of World War I Burials at Arlington National Cemetery United States Navy Medal of Honor recipients People from Stamford, Connecticut American military personnel of the Boxer Rebellion United States Navy officers Boxer Rebellion recipients of the Medal of Honor Merchant Marine Naval Reservists Military personnel from Connecticut United States Navy reservists

Biography

Medal of Honor citation

See also

References