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TAPS
Fading light dims the sight,
And a star gems the sky,
Gleaming bright.
From afar drawing nigh,
Falls the night.
Day is done, gone the sun,
From the lake, From the hills,
From the sky.
All is well, safely rest,
God is nigh.
Then good night, Peaceful night,
Till the light of the dawn
Shineth bright,
God is near, do not fear,
Friend, good night. |
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BORN:
November 13, 1891 at Baltimore, MD
Entered Service in the US
Navy from Maryland
Earned
The Medal of Honor During the Mexican Campaign For heroism on
April 21 - 22, 1914 at Vera Cruz, Mexico
DIED: January
06, 1960 at the age of 68
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In an effort
to force out General Victoriano Huerta, who had seized the
presidency of Mexico in a bloody coup d' etat, President Woodrow
Wilson sent three Navy vessels to Vera Cruz under the command of
Rear Admiral Frank Friday Fletcher. On the morning of April 21
nearly 1,500 American combat troops were put ashore, and that
night another 1,500 reinforcements landed. By noon on April 22nd
the American forces had taken control of the city. In the two
day action Fletcher lost 17 men killed, 63 wounded. The Mexicans
had nearly 800 dead or wounded. Ensign Edward McDonnell
maintained a signal station on the roof of the Terminal Hotel,
from which he maintained communication between the ships and the
ground troops combating enemy forces in the city. Though one man
in his station was killed and three wounded beside him, he
ignored the heavy enemy attacks on the important signal station
for two days to insure that communications continued unabated
throughout some of the heaviest periods of fighting.
The men who landed at Vera Cruz on April 21 - 22 accomplished
their mission in two days, and returned to their vessels within
the same week.
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