Having already served in the Spanish American War, twenty-three year old Marine Private William Charlie Horton was sent to China in the summer of 1900, to serve in the American Chinese Relief Expedition during the Boxer Rebellion.
The Boxer Rebellion was a violent anti-imperialism, anti-Christian movement by a rapidly growing secret society called the "Righteous Fists of Harmony," in China (known as "Boxers" in English), between 1898 and 1901. The Boxers attempted to rid China of foreigners and Chinese Christians by burning their homes and businesses. Fearing for the lives of their own citizens living and working in China, Western governments sent their troops to assist the Chinese Army in quelling the violence. While engaging the Boxers in what was then called Peking (now Beijing), Private Horton repeatedly showed the heroism required to earn our nation's highest military decoration. Part of his citation reads, "In action against the enemy at Peking, China, 21 July to 17 August 1900. Although under heavy fire from the enemy, Horton assisted in the erection of barricades." This young Marine's ability to perform his duties under extremely dangerous conditions for more than four continuous weeks is highly commendable. We are honored to have this brave man interred here at Evergreen-Washelli.
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