Private Herbert Irving Preston was a Marine in the U.S. Marine Corps who received the Medal of Honor for his actions between July 21 and August 17, 1900 in Peking, China during the Boxer Rebellion. Preston was 23 years old.
12 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day.
Preston was born on August 6, 1876 in Berkeley, Union County, New Jersey. His Medal of Honor is credited to New Jersey. Preston died on December 8, 1928 in Norwalk Harbor (drowned), Connecticut, at the age of 52. He is buried at remains in Unknown plot at Norwalk Cemetery in Norwalk, Connecticut.
Preston is one of 59 Medal of Honor recipients from the Boxer Rebellion and one of 93 credited to New Jersey.
Official Medal of Honor citation
In the presence of the enemy during the action at Peking, China, 21 July to 17 August 1900. Throughout this period, Preston distinguished himself by meritorious conduct.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Battles and campaigns
Also served in: Boxer Rebellion.
Places
- Born: New Jersey — map
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in New Jersey →
From the archives
Research originally indicated that Herbert Preston's remains were not located after his drowning death. Subsequent research shows that his remains were indeed found several days later and intered at Norwalk Cemetery, Norwalk, CT. That plot remains lost to history. Before this new information came to light, he received an offical in-memory-of Medal of Honor headstone at his wife's gravesite in Riverside Cemetery, Norwalk, CT.
Timeline
- August 6, 1876Born in Berkeley, Union County, New Jersey
- July 21 - August 17, 1900Act of valor — Peking, ChinaAge 23.
- December 8, 1928Died in Norwalk Harbor (drowned), ConnecticutAge 52.
- Resting placeremains in Unknown plot at Norwalk CemeteryNorwalk, Connecticut
Biography
Herbert I. Preston (August 6, 1876 – December 8, 1928) was an American private serving in the United States Marine Corps during the Boxer Rebellion who received the Medal of Honor for bravery.
From the Wikipedia article “Herbert Irving Preston”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
