This Military Service Page was created/owned by
Shaun Thomas (Underdog), OSC
to remember
Harrison, William Kelly (MOH), CDR USN(Ret).
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Contact Info
Home Town Waco
Last Address San Diego, California
Date of Passing Aug 15, 1928
Location of Interment Arlington National Cemetery (VLM) - Arlington, Virginia
On April 20, 1914, Congress authorized the occupation of Vera Cruz, Mexico, to "obtain the fullest recognition of the rights and dignity of the United States." On the night of April 21 Commander Harrison distinguished himself by bringing his ship into the inner harbor without the assistance of a pilot or navigational aids. He had his ship in position on the morning of the twenty-second to use his guns with telling effect.
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.
Other Comments:
Born at Waco, Texas, July 30, 1870, Commander Harrison was awarded the Medal of Honor for service at Vera Cruz, Mexico, on April 21-22, 1914. The Medal was actually issued to him on December 4, 1915.
The Commander died on August 15, 1928 and was buried in Section 2 of Arlington National Cemetery. His wife, Kate H. Harrison, August 22, 1872-March 29, 1967, is buried with him.
Note: His son, William Kelly Harrison, Jr., graduated from West Point in 1917 and retired from the Army as a Lieutenant General in 1957.
NEC 116X-Unrestricted Line Officer - Surface Warfare (In Training)
Base, Station or City Not Specified
State/Country Not Specified
Patch
USS Indiana (BB-1) Details
Indiana Class Battleship: Displacement 10,288 Tons, Dimensions, 350' 11" (oa) x 69' 3" x 27' 2" (Max), Armament 4 x 13"/35 8 x 8"/35, 4 x 6"/30, 4 x 18"tt, Armor, 18" Belt, 15" Turrets, 3" Decks, 10" Conning Tower, Machinery, 9,000 IHP; 2 vertical, inverted, triple expansion engines, 2 screws, Speed, 15 Knots, Crew 473.
Operational and Building Data: Laid down by Cramp, Philadelphia on May 7, 1891. Launched February 28, 1893, Commissioned November 20, 1895; Decommissioned December 29, 1903; Recommissioned January 9, 1906; Decommissioned May 23, 1914; Recommissioned May 24, 1917; Reclassified Coastal Battleship #1, March 29, 1919; Decommissioned March 31, 1919.
Fate: Sunk as target off Tangier Island, Maryland, November 1 1920, Hulk sold March 19, 1924 and broken up for scrap.
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