Other Memories
he was admitted to a hospital in October of 1915 and spending most of 1916 on sick leave. He served on Courts Martial in Guam, San Diego, and San Francisco until his retirement from the Navy on May 22, 1919.
Criteria The World War I Victory Medal was awarded for military service during the First World War. It was awarded for active service between April 6, 1917, and November 11, 1918; for service with the American... The World War I Victory Medal was awarded for military service during the First World War. It was awarded for active service between April 6, 1917, and November 11, 1918; for service with the American Expeditionary Forces in European Russia between November 12, 1918, and August 5, 1919; or for service with the American Expeditionary Forces in Siberia between November 23, 1918, and April 1, 1920. MoreHide
Comments Citation:
"For distinguished conduct in battle, engagements of Vera Cruz, 21 and 22 April 1914. During this period, Comdr. Harrison brought his ship into the inner harbor during the nights of the 21st... Citation:
"For distinguished conduct in battle, engagements of Vera Cruz, 21 and 22 April 1914. During this period, Comdr. Harrison brought his ship into the inner harbor during the nights of the 21st and 22d without the assistance of a pilot or navigational lights, and was in a position on the morning of the 22d to use his guns with telling effect at a critical time."
MoreHide
Criteria The Navy Expeditionary Medal is awarded to Navy personnel who have landed on foreign territory and engaged in operations against armed opposition or who have operated under circumstances deemed to mer... The Navy Expeditionary Medal is awarded to Navy personnel who have landed on foreign territory and engaged in operations against armed opposition or who have operated under circumstances deemed to merit special recognition and for which no campaign medal has been awarded. MoreHide
Description The U.S.S. San Francisco was one of 41 ships sent to Vera Cruz in 1914 as part of the United States' involvement in the Mexican Revolution. On the morning of April 21, bombardment of the port city beg... The U.S.S. San Francisco was one of 41 ships sent to Vera Cruz in 1914 as part of the United States' involvement in the Mexican Revolution. On the morning of April 21, bombardment of the port city began, followed by the landing of U.S. troops by 11:30 a.m., which prompted the Mexican soldiers stationed there to retreat.
Besides small pockets of resistance throughout the city, the main opposition to U.S. forces was the cadets of the Naval Academy, who had taken it upon themselves to fight off the invasion. The U.S.S. Prairie began bombarding the Naval Academy on the afternoon of the 21st. On the morning of the 22nd, the continuing bombardment was carried out by the U.S.S. San Francisco and the U.S.S. Chester. By April 24, all fighting around the city of Vera Cruz stopped.
Description
incident came in the midst of poor diplomatic relations between Mexico and the United States, related to the ongoing Mexican Revolution.
Memories Harrison was promoted to Commander on January 14, 1911, and on November 7, 1912, was given command oHarrison was promoted to Commander on January 14, 1911, and on November 7, 1912, was given command of the U.S.S. San Francisco.
The U.S.S. San Francisco was one of 41 ships sent to Vera Cruz in 1914 as part of the United States' involvement in the Mexican Revolution. On the morning of April 21, bombardment of the port city began, followed by the landing of U.S. troops by 11:30 a.m., which prompted the Mexican soldiers stationed there to retreat.
Besides small pockets of resistance throughout the city, the main opposition to U.S. forces was the cadets of the Naval Academy, who had taken it upon themselves to fight off the invasion. The U.S.S. Prairie began bombarding the Naval Academy on the afternoon of the 21st. On the morning of the 22nd, the continuing bombardment was carried out by the U.S.S. San Francisco and the U.S.S. Chester. By April 24, all fighting around the city of Vera Cruz stopped.
Harrison and Commander William Moffett of the U.S.S. Chester both received the Congressional Medal of Honor for their actions on April 21st and 22nd, having taken their ships into the inner harbor of Vera Cruz at night without the benefit of navigation lights to begin bombardment the morning of the attack. However, on Commander Harrison's citation, it is listed that he was in command of the U.S.S. Chester, not the U.S.S. San Francisco. ... More
Other Memories
On July 1, 1905, Harrison was promoted to Lieutenant Commander. He received instruction in navigation from the Bureau of Equipment's Compass Office, and served as Navigator for the U.S.S. Minnesota, part of the Great White Fleet, during its 1907-1909 circumnavigation of the globe.
Other Memories
After returning to the North Atlantic in 1904, he served on the U.S.S. Newark for its annual target practice and was stationed with the Bureau of Navigation.
Other Memories
Harrison served on three ships in the Pacific before being transferred to the U.S.S. Vesuvius in the Atlantic on January 12, 1897. He then transferred to the U.S.S. Vicksburg on September 12, 1898, and was promoted to Lieutenant on March 3, 1899. Harrison was stationed on the U.S.S. Buffalo in the Pacific shortly before being sent to the U.S.S. Indiana (the United States' first battleship) on June 24, 1899, in the Atlantic. He was stationed on one more ship in the Atlantic before returning to the Pacific Fleet in January of 1900.
Lieutenant Harrison became an instructor on the U.S.S. Indiana, now a training ship, before being sent to the South Atlantic Station to become Fleet Gunnery Officer in 1903
Criteria The Sampson Medal was first authorized by a Joint resolution of the United States Congress on March 3, 1901. The resolution authorized the Secretary of the Navy to have produced bronze medals to comme... The Sampson Medal was first authorized by a Joint resolution of the United States Congress on March 3, 1901. The resolution authorized the Secretary of the Navy to have produced bronze medals to commemorate naval engagements in the West Indies and on the shores of Cuba during the Spanish-American War. The medal was to be presented to the officers and men of the United States Navy and Marine Corps who participated in engagements and battles that were deemed to be of sufficient importance to merit their commemoration. MoreHide
Criteria To be awarded the West Indies Campaign Medal, a service member must have performed sea duty in the West Indies between the dates of May 1, 1898 and August 16, 1898. The award was a one time decoration... To be awarded the West Indies Campaign Medal, a service member must have performed sea duty in the West Indies between the dates of May 1, 1898 and August 16, 1898. The award was a one time decoration only and there were no devices authorized for multiple engagements or combat participation. MoreHide
Description The Spanish–American War (Spanish: Guerra hispano-estadounidense or Guerra hispano-americana; Filipino: Digmaang Espanyol-Amerikano) was a conflict fought between Spain and the United States in 1898. The Spanish–American War (Spanish: Guerra hispano-estadounidense or Guerra hispano-americana; Filipino: Digmaang Espanyol-Amerikano) was a conflict fought between Spain and the United States in 1898. Hostilities began in the aftermath of the internal explosion of the USS Maine in Havana harbor in Cuba leading to United States intervention in the Cuban War of Independence. American acquisition of Spain's Pacific possessions led to its involvement in the Philippine Revolution and ultimately in the Philippine–American War.
Revolts had been occurring for some years in Cuba against Spanish rule. The U.S. later backed these revolts upon entering the Spanish–American War. There had been war scares before, as in the Virginius Affair in 1873. In the late 1890s, US public opinion was agitated by anti-Spanish propaganda led by newspaper publishers such as Joseph Pulitzer and William Randolph Hearst which used yellow journalism to call for war. The business community across the United States had just recovered from a deep depression, and feared that a war would reverse the gains. They lobbied vigorously against going to war.
The US Navy battleship Maine was mysteriously sunk in Havana harbor; political pressures from the Democratic Party pushed the administration of Republican President William McKinley into a war that he had wished to avoid.[9] Spain promised time and time again that it would reform, but never delivered. The United States sent an ultimatum to Spain demanding that it surrender control of Cuba. First Madrid declared war, and Washington then followed suit.
The main issue was Cuban independence; the ten-week war was fought in both the Caribbean and the Pacific. US naval power proved decisive, allowing expeditionary forces to disembark in Cuba against a Spanish garrison already facing nationwide Cuban insurgent attacks and further wasted by yellow fever. Numerically superior Cuban, Philippine, and US forces obtained the surrender of Santiago de Cuba and Manila despite the good performance of some Spanish infantry units and fierce fighting for positions such as San Juan Hill. Madrid sued for peace with two obsolete Spanish squadrons sunk in Santiago de Cuba and Manila Bay and a third, more modern fleet recalled home to protect the Spanish coasts.
The result was the 1898 Treaty of Paris, negotiated on terms favorable to the US which allowed it temporary control of Cuba and ceded ownership of Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippine islands. The cession of the Philippines involved payment of $20 million ($575,760,000 today) to Spain by the US to cover infrastructure owned by Spain.
The defeat and collapse of the Spanish Empire was a profound shock to Spain's national psyche, and provoked a thorough philosophical and artistic revaluation of Spanish society known as the Generation of '98.[ The United States gained several island possessions spanning the globe and a rancorous new debate over the wisdom of expansionism. It was one of only five US wars (against a total of eleven sovereign states) to have been formally declared by Congress.... More
Description
The Battle of San Juan, not be be confused with the Battle of San Juan Hill, referes to an American naval attack on the fortifications of San Juan, Puerto Rico
Memories The Battle of San Juan, not be be confused with the Battle of San Juan Hill, referes to an American The Battle of San Juan, not be be confused with the Battle of San Juan Hill, referes to an American naval attack on the fortifications of San Juan, Puerto Rico ... More
Description
The invasion was instrumental in the Battle of Santiago de Cuba and the subsequent invasion of Puerto Rico.
Memories The invasion was instrumental in the Battle of Santiago de Cuba and the subsequent invasion of PuertThe invasion was instrumental in the Battle of Santiago de Cuba and the subsequent invasion of Puerto Rico. ... More
he was admitted to a hospital in October of 1915 and spending most of 1916 on sick leave. He served on Courts Martial in Guam, San Diego, and San Francisco until his retirement from the Navy on May 22, 1919.