News : March 25th: National Medal of Honor Day

Twenty-five years ago the United States Congress designated March 25th of each year as “National Medal of Honor Day,” a day dedicated to Medal of Honor Recipients. In recognition of this day, please allow me to share with you the story of one Medal of Honor recipient, Calvin P. Titus.

Calvin Pearl Titus was born September 18, 1879, the son of Calvin and Cora (Smith) Titus, in Vinton, Iowa. Young Calvin first joined the Army with the 1st Vermont Volunteer Infantry in May of 1898. The 1st Vermont was raised for the Spanish American War but it never left the United States. In April 1899 he joined the 14th Infantry Regiment and served in the Philippines and China.

The 14th Infantry Regiment took part in the August 14, 1900 Allied Relief Expedition's assault on the outer walls of Peking, China, during the Boxer Rebellion. While under heavy fire from Chinese troops the Regiment's Commander, Colonel A. S. Daggett, decided that the wall needed to be scaled and secured and he asked for volunteers. Calvin stepped forward and said, “I'll try Sir,” this phrase latter became the regiment's motto. Without his weapons, a scaling ladder or ropes and not knowing what awaited him at the top, Calvin successfully scaled the approximately thirty foot brick wall to find that there where no Chinese troops in that section of the wall.

Because of his heroic act Calvin received an appointment to West Point Military Academy. It was there, in 1902, that President Theodore Roosevelt presented him with the Medal of Honor. After graduating Second Lieutenant Calvin P. Titus returned to his regiment. He would go on to serve in the Mexican Expedition and with the US occupation forces in Germany after WWI. He retired from the Army with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in October of 1930.

Calvin died at the age of 86, in San Fernando, California, May 27, 1966.

Sources of information.

http://www.homeofheroes.com/moh/history/day.html

http://chapnet.chaplaincorps.net/?page_id=2296

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calvin_Pearl_Titus

http://burnpit.us/2011/08/calvin-p-titus-bugler-company-e-14th-infantry-ill-try-sir