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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Lieutenant · U.S. Navy

Julius Curtis Townsend

Lieutenant Julius Curtis Townsend, Navy, received the Medal of Honor for actions on April 22, 1914 in Vera Cruz, Mexico during the 1914 Veracruz expedition.

Mexican Campaign (Vera Cruz) April 22, 1914

Lieutenant Julius Curtis Townsend, a sailor in the U.S. Navy, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry on April 22, 1914 in Vera Cruz, Mexico during the 1914 Veracruz expedition. Townsend was 33 years old.

13 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. He later rose to the rank of Rear Admiral.

Townsend was born on February 22, 1881 in Athens, Clark County, Missouri. Townsend died on December 28, 1939 in Brooklyn, New York, at the age of 58. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.

Townsend is one of 56 Medal of Honor recipients from the 1914 Veracruz expedition and one of 78 credited to Missouri.

Official Medal of Honor citation

For distinguished conduct in battle, engagement of Vera Cruz, 22 April 1914. Lt. Townsend was eminent and conspicuous in command of his battalion. He exhibited courage and skill in leading his men through the action of the 22d and in the final occupation of the city.

Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.

Other decorations and honors

Besides the Medal of Honor, Julius Curtis Townsend received:

Navy Cross

Source: Wikidata. Gold chips link to our guide to that decoration.

Life beyond the battlefield

Source: Wikidata.

Places

  • Born: Athens — map
  • Died: Brooklyn Naval Hospital — map
  • Buried: Arlington National Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Missouri →

Timeline

  1. February 22, 1881
    Born in Athens, Clark County, Missouri
  2. April 22, 1914
    Act of valor — Vera Cruz, Mexico
    Age 33.
  3. December 28, 1939
    Died in Brooklyn, New York
    Age 58.
  4. Resting place
    Arlington National Cemetery
    Arlington, Virginia

Biography

Julius Curtis Townsend (February 22, 1881 – December 28, 1939) was born in Missouri. He graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1902. He received the Medal of Honor for actions at the United States occupation of Veracruz, 1914. He was later awarded the Navy Cross and also served in World War I. He remained in the United States Navy for the rest of his life, ultimately serving as a rear admiral from May 1936 until his death in December 1939.

From the Wikipedia article “Julius Curtis Townsend”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

Also honored for actions on April 22, 1914

Edwin Alexander Anderson Captain · Navy Veracruz 1914 · 1914 Smedley Darlington Butler Major · Marine Corps Veracruz 1914 · 1914 Albertus Wright Catlin Major · Marine Corps Veracruz 1914 · 1914 Hugh Carroll Frazer Ensign · Navy Veracruz 1914 · 1914 JG John Grady Lieutenant · Navy Veracruz 1914 · 1914 Charles Conway Hartigan Lieutenant · Navy Veracruz 1914 · 1914 Jonas Howard Ingram Lieutenant, j.g. · Navy Veracruz 1914 · 1914 Rufus Zenas Johnston Jr. Lieutenant Commander · Navy Veracruz 1914 · 1914 Cary Devall Langhorne Surgeon · Navy Veracruz 1914 · 1914 James Patrick Lannon Lieutenant · Navy Veracruz 1914 · 1914 JM John McCloy Chief Boatswain · Navy Veracruz 1914 · 1914 Frederick Vallette McNair Jr. Lieutenant · Navy Veracruz 1914 · 1914

See all 14 recipients for April 22, 1914 →

Sources. Service and award details compiled from the recipient record of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, Wikidata and Wikipedia. The narrative summary is generated from these records. Spotted an error? Send a correction.