Harry C. Adriance

Harry Chapman Adriance
Born	(1864-10-27)October 27, 1864
Died	January 25, 1934(1934-01-25) (aged 69)
Place of birth	Oswego, New York
Place of death	Coney Island, New York
Allegiance	United States
Service/branch	United States Marine Corps
Years of service	1898–1904
Rank	Sergeant (discharged as Private)
Battles/wars	Boxer Rebellion
Awards	Medal of Honor Spanish Campaign Medal Philippine Campaign Medal China Relief Expedition Medal

Harry Chapman Adriance (October 27, 1864 – January 25, 1934) was a United States Marine who received the Medal of Honor for his "distinguished conduct in the presence of the enemy in battle near Tientsin, China" on July 13, 1900 during the Boxer Rebellion.

Biography

Harry Adriance was born on October 27, 1864 in Oswego, New York. At the age of 33, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in Boston, Massachusetts on June 15, 1898. He served at Marine Barracks, New York Navy Yard and then was transferred to the U.S. Naval Base, Cavite, Philippine Islands, arriving there on September 21, 1899.

He was among the Marines sent to the city of Tientsin on June 29, 1900 at the outbreak of hostilities by the Boxers in China. Two weeks after arriving in China, Cpl Adriance distinguished himself by meritorious conduct during the battle near Tientsin. He served with the China Relief Expedition until October 10, 1900. On March 24, 1902, Cpl Adriance was presented the Medal of Honor for his actions on July 13, 1900.

Corporal Adriance returned to Cavite after his tour in China ended and then was transferred to the Brooklyn Navy Yard, New York on July 20, 1902. He was discharged there at the rank of sergeant on June 19, 1903. Three weeks later, Sgt Adriance re-enlisted in Buffalo, New York. A contested court-martial approximately one year later regarding theft charges resulted in Sgt Adriance receiving a bad conduct discharge from the Marine Corps and a reduction in rank to private on September 7, 1904.

Adriance died in a Coney Island, New York, hospital on January 25, 1934, at the age of 70 from gallstones and jaundice. Records indicate he was cremated, and his ashes given to his wife.

In the late 1980s, the Marine Corps League in his hometown of Oswego initiated proceedings in an attempt to upgrade Pvt Adriance's discharge. The outcome is unknown.

Decorations

•   Medal of Honor
•   Spanish Campaign Medal
•   Philippine Campaign Medal
•   China Relief Expedition Medal (Navy)

Medal of Honor citation

Rank and organization: Corporal, U.S. Marine Corps. Born: October 27, 1864, Oswego, N.Y. Accredited to: Massachusetts. G.O. No.: 55, July 19, 1901.

Citation:

In the presence of the enemy during the battle near Tientsin, China, July 13, 1900, Adriance distinguished himself by meritorious conduct.

See also

• List of Medal of Honor recipients for the Boxer Rebellion

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Marine Corps.

• "Harry C. Adriance, Medal of Honor recipient". Who's who in Marine Corps history. History Division, United States Marine Corps. September 18, 2003. http://www.tecom.usmc.mil/HD/Whos_Who/Adriance_HC.htm. Retrieved 2007-10-07. 

• "CPL Harry C. Adriance, Medal of Honor, 1900, China\". Marines Awarded the Medal of Honor. United States Marine Corps. Archived from the original on 2007-02-20. http://web.archive.org/web/20070220130841/http://www.usmc.mil/moh.nsf/000003c919889c0385255f980058f5b6/000003c919889c0385255f98005c1fcc?OpenDocument. Retrieved 2007-10-07. 

• "Harry C. Adriance". Claim to Fame: Medal of Honor recipients. Find a Grave. http://www.findagrave.com/memorial/10284589. Retrieved 2007-10-28. 
• "ADRIANCE, HARRY CHAPMAN". Medal of Honor recipients, China Relief Expedition (Boxer Rebellion). United States Army Center of Military History. http://www.history.army.mil/html/moh/chinare.html. Retrieved 2007-10-07. 

• "MOH Citation for Harry Adriance". Home of Heroes. http://www.homeofheros.com/moh/citations_1900_wars/ch_adriance.html. Retrieved 2007-10-07.