b. 02/05/1881 Brooklyn, New York. d. 15/07/1942 Pensacola, Florida.
DATE OF MOH ACTION: 20-22/06/1900 Peking, China.
Robert H Stanley MOH
Stanley was born Brooklyn, New York on May 2, 1881. On March 28, 1898, he enlisted in the Navy at age 16 aboard the receiving ship USS Vermont, moored at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. He served as a landsman and participated in the Spanish–American War, which was declared only a month after his enlistment, and the Philippine–American War which began in 1899.
He was serving as a Hospital Apprentice on the USS Newark when the ship arrived in Tientsin, China on May 22, 1900. The Newark had been sent during the China Relief Expedition to help relieve Allied forces fighting in the Boxer Rebellion. On 13 and 20, 21, and June 22 and July 12, in Beijing (then known to Americans as “Peking”), he volunteered to carry messages between the American and British legations despite heavy fire, “Chinese snipers were everywhere and Boxer militants fought viciously.”
For these actions, he was awarded the Medal of Honor a year later, on July 19, 1901. The medal was presented to him aboard the armored cruiser USS Brooklyn. Stanley, at age 19, was the youngest Medal of Honor recipient of the Boxer Rebellion. He was also the first member of the U.S. Navy medical community to receive the award. Stanley was discharged from the Navy on August 8, 1901, which was one month after being awarded the Medal of Honor.
In 1917, Stanley re-enlisted in order to serve in World War I. During the war, he served on the USS America (ID-3006), a German passenger liner seized by the United States and converted to a troop transport.
Stanley was promoted to the warrant officer rank of Pharmacist on August 5, 5, 1920. He was promoted to Chief Pharmacist on September 24, 1923.
MOH CITATION:
For distinguished conduct in the presence of the enemy in volunteering and carrying messages under fire at Peking, China, 12 July 1900.
BURIAL LOCATION: ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY, ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA.
SECTION 7, GRAVE 8348.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: BELIEVED TO BE FAMILY.
