Serving as a Marine in the U.S. Marine Corps, Private Harry Fisher was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously for his actions between June 20 and July 16, 1900 in Peking, China during the Boxer Rebellion. Fisher was 25 years old.
Fisher was killed in the action for which his medal was awarded. 27 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day.
Fisher was born on October 20, 1874 in McKeesport, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. His Medal of Honor is credited to Pennsylvania. He is buried at Versailles Cemetery in McKeesport, Pennsylvania. His medal is held by McKeesport Heritage Center, McKeesport, PA. Records also list him as Phillips, Franklin J..
Fisher is one of 59 Medal of Honor recipients from the Boxer Rebellion and one of 380 credited to Pennsylvania.
Official Medal of Honor citation
Served in the presence of the enemy at the battle of Peking, China, 20 June to 16 July 1900. Assisting in the erection of barricades during the action, Fisher was killed by the heavy fire of the enemy.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Wounds and death in action
- Killed in action during the act for which the medal was awarded (July 16, 1900).
- Age at death: 25
- Resting place: Versailles Cemetery
Battles and campaigns
Also served in: Spanish–American War.
Life beyond the battlefield
- Education: McKeesport Area High School
Source: Wikidata.
Places
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Pennsylvania →
From the archives
Harry Fisher's legal name was Franklin J. Phillips. When he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps, he used the alias "Fisher" because he has been dishonorably discharged from the Army. His name was officially changed in records to his legal name of Phillips by legislation in the 1980s.
Timeline
- October 20, 1874Born in McKeesport, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
- June 20 - July 16, 1900Act of valor — Peking, ChinaAge 25. Killed in action.
- Resting placeVersailles CemeteryMcKeesport, Pennsylvania
Biography
Franklin J. Phillips (October 20, 1874 – July 16, 1900), also known as Harry Fisher, was a soldier and Marine, and after serving in the United States Marine Corps as a private, he posthumously received the Medal of Honor for actions during the Boxer Rebellion. Private Phillips was the first Marine whose Medal of Honor was awarded posthumously. Phillips is interred in Versailles Cemetery, McKeesport.
From the Wikipedia article “Franklin J. Phillips”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
