William P. Upshur
| William Peterkin Upshur | |
|---|---|
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Major General William P. Upshur, Medal of Honor recipient
|
|
| Born |
October 28, 1881 Richmond, Virginia |
| Died | July 21, 1943 (aged 61) near Sitka, Alaska |
| Place of burial | United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland |
| Allegiance |
 United States of America
|
| Service/branch |
 United States Marine Corps
|
| Years of service | 1904–1943 |
| Rank |
 Major General
|
| Unit | 2nd Marine Regiment |
| Commands held | Marine Corps Schools Marine Corps Reserve Marine Corps Base San Diego Department of the Pacific |
| Battles/wars |
Haitian Campaign World War I World War II |
| Awards |
Medal of Honor Purple Heart |
Major General William Peterkin Upshur (October 28, 1881 – July 21, 1943) was the recipient of the United States' highest military decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in 1915 during the Haitian Campaign.
William Upshur was born October 28, 1881 in Richmond, Virginia and graduated from the Virginia Military Institute (VMI) in 1902.
After graduating from VMI he was appointed a second lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps on February 1, 1904 and subsequently served aboard several vessels of the United States Navy, at foreign stations throughout the world, and at various posts and stations in the United States.
His foreign shore duty included service with an expeditionary force to Havana, Cuba, in October 1906, and duty at Camp Evans, Deer Point, Guantanamo, Cuba, from January 9, to February 8, 1907. He again was detailed to expeditionary duty with a force of Marines on the Isthmus of Panama from June 19, to August 8, 1908. Arriving at Olongapo, Philippine Islands, in January 1912, he joined the 1st Brigade of Marines and was again detached in February 1914, this time to the Marine Detachment, American Legation, Peking, China, where he served until October 16, 1914.
On August 4, 1915, he assumed command of the 15th Company, 2nd Regiment, Port-au-Prince, Haiti, where he participated in engagements against Haitian rebels known as cacos. Decorations earned during this deployment included the Haitian Campaign Medal and the Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal. For his bravery during six day mission against the cacos, he was awarded the Medal of Honor. He was one of six men, including Smedley Butler to receive the Medal of Honor for actions during the occupation of Haiti.
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