Calvin Pearl Titus
Calvin Pearl Titus | |
|---|---|
 Calvin Titus in his West Point Cadet Uniform | |
| Born | September 22, 1879 Vinton, Iowa |
| Died | May 27, 1966 (aged 86) San Fernando, California |
| Place of burial | |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Service/ | United States Army |
| Years of service | 1898–1930 |
| Rank | Lieutenant Colonel |
| Unit | 14th Infantry Regiment |
| Battles/wars | Philippine–American War Boxer Rebellion *Battle of Peking Mexican Expedition |
| Awards | Medal of Honor |
Calvin Pearl Titus (September 22, 1879 – May 27, 1966) was a soldier of the United States Army and the last American standard-bearer.[citation needed] He received the Medal of Honor for his actions during the Battle of Peking of the Boxer Rebellion.
Biography
Calvin Pearl Titus was the son of Calvin and Cora Smith Titus of Vinton, Iowa. He moved to Oklahoma with his father after his mother died, and later lived with his Aunt Florence and Uncle William (Bill) H. Lee, evangelists with first the Salvation Army and later the Pilgrim Holiness movement. Titus credited his time in his Uncle's evangelical band with giving him the bugle skills to join the armed forces and eventually leading him to Peking.
Titus first joined the United States Army in May 1898, serving with the 1st Vermont Volunteer Infantry (although raised for the Spanish–American War, this unit never left the United States). He joined the 14th Infantry Regiment in April 1899, serving in the Philippines and China.
He was then appointed to West Point as a result of his award of the Medal of Honor, where President Theodore Roosevelt's presentation of his medal there on March 11, 1902, was the climax of a ceremony to celebrate the academy's centennial.[1] He graduated with the West Point Class of 1905
His religious faith led him to try to become an Army Chaplain, but his denomination was not at that time recognized by the Army. Instead, he rejoined his old regiment as a second lieutenant.
Titus later served in the Mexican Expedition and with the U.S. occupation forces in Germany.
He retired from the United States Army with the rank of lieutenant colonel in October 1930.[2] In September 2016, Titus was honored with the painting of his image of the Benton County Freedom Rock, located in Shellsburg, Iowa.
Medal of Honor citation
Rank and organization: Musician, U.S. Army, Company E, 14th U.S. Infantry. Place and date: At Peking, China, August 14, 1900. Entered service at: Iowa. Birth: Vinton, Iowa. Date of issue: March 11, 1902.
Citation:
Gallant and daring conduct in the presence of his colonel and other officers and enlisted men of his regiment; was first to scale the wall of the city.
See also
References
- ^ Ambrose, Steven E. (1966). Duty, Honor, Country: A History of West Point. Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins Press. p. 242. ISBN 0-8018-6293-0.
- ^ Service Profile
- Sterner, C. Douglas. "Calvin Pearl Titus". Home of Heroes. Retrieved October 5, 2007.
- Iowa History page
External links
- "Calvin Pearl Titus". Claim to Fame: Medal of Honor recipients. Find a Grave. Retrieved 2008-02-15.
- "Calvin Pearl Titus, Medal of Honor recipient". Medal of Honor citation. United States Army Center of Military History. June 8, 2009. Retrieved June 8, 2009.
- "Calvin Pearl Titus, Home of Heroes". Home of Heroes.
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