Hiram I. Bearss

Infobox Military Person
name= Hiram Iddings Bearss
born= Birth date|1875|4|13
died= death date and age|1938|8|28|1875|4|13
placeofbirth= Peru, Indiana
placeofdeath= Columbia City, Indiana
placeofburial= Mount Hope Cemetery, Peru, Indiana


caption= Medal of Honor recipient Hiram I. Bearss
nickname= "Hiking Hiram"
allegiance=flagicon|United States
branch=
serviceyears= 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
unit=
battles= Philippine-American War World War I Battle of Belleau Wood Battle of Saint-Mihiel
awards= Medal of Honor (1901) Distinguished Service Cross (1918) Navy Distinguished Service Medal Croix de Guerre
laterwork=

Hiram Iddings Bearss (April 13, 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.

Biography

Bearss was born April 13, 1875 in Peru, Indiana, and attended Norwich University, where he received a degree before entering the service.

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.

Bearss died in 1938 in an automobile collision in Columbia City, Indiana, while en route from Chicago to Peru, Indiana.

Namesake

In 1943, the destroyer USS|Bearss|DD-654 was named in his honor.

Medal of Honor citation

The President of the United States takes pleasure in the name of The Congress in presenting the MEDAL OF HONOR to

COLONEL HIRAM I. BEARSSUNITED STATES MARINE CORPS
for service in Samar, P. I., as set forth in the following 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.

/S/ H. J. ROOSEVELT

ee also

*List of Medal of Honor recipients
*List of Philippine-American War Medal of Honor recipients

References

:Marine Corps
*cite web
accessdate=2005-11-15
url=http://www.marines.mil/moh.nsf/0/000003c919889c0385255f9800625577?OpenDocument
archivedate=2007-01-03
archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20070103160459/www.usmc.mil/moh.nsf/000003c919889c0385255f980058f5b6/000003c919889c0385255f9800625577?OpenDocument
title= Col Hiram I. Bearss, Medal of Honor, 1901, Samar, P.I. (Medal of Honor citation)
work=Marines Awarded the Medal of Honor
publisher=History Division, United States Marine Corps

*Clark, George B. [http://www.mcfarlandpub.com/book-2.php?isbn=0-7864-2111-8 "Hiram Iddings Bearss, U.S. Marine Corps: Biography of a World War I Hero"] , McFarland & Company, 2005. (ISBN 0-7864-2111-8)
* [http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/b4/bearss-i.htm Hiram I. Bearss] , "Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships".
*Clark, George B. "Hiram I. Bearss Marine", "Leatherneck, January 31, 2006.
*Frank, Benis M. [http://www.au.af.mil/au/awc/awcgate/usmchist/3rdMar.txt "A Brief History of the 3rd Marines] , Historical Branch, United States Marines Corps, 1958.
*findagrave|7827299 Retrieved on 2007-12-16

Further reading

*Clark, George C. "His Road to Glory: The Life and Times of "Hiking Hiram" Bearss, Hoosier Marine", 2003

Persondata
NAME= Bearss, Hiram
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION= Marine Corps Medal of Honor recipient
DATE OF BIRTH= April 13, 1875
PLACE OF BIRTH= Peru, Indiana
DATE OF DEATH= August 28, 1938
PLACE OF DEATH= Columbia City, Indiana