If you knew or served with this Sailor and have additional information or photos to support this Page, please leave a message for the Page Administrator(s) HERE.
Contact Info
Home Town Hamburg
Date of Passing Nov 17, 1971
Location of Interment Clover Leaf Memorial Park - Woodbridge, New Jersey
"Chief Machinist" was a CPO from 1893 to 1904. "Mate" was added in 1904. China Relief / Boxer Rebellion
Award and Citation
Medal of Honor
Awarded for actions during the CHINA RELIEF (Boxer Rebellion)
For The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Chief Machinist Carl Emil Petersen, United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism in action in the presence of the enemy during the action at Peking, China, 28 June to 17 August 1900, while serving with a detachment from the U.S.S. Newark. During this period Chief Machinist Petersen distinguished himself by meritorious conduct.
General Orders: War Department, General Orders No. 55 (July 19, 1901) Action Date: June 28 - August 17, 1900 Service: US Navy Rank: Chief Machinist
Division: U.S.S. Newark
BOXERS, the name given to the society of the
Fists of Righteous Harmony
.
Other Comments:
Carl Emil Petersen (August 24, 1875 – November 17, 1971) was an American sailor serving in the United States Navy during the Boxer Rebellion who was awarded the Medal of Honor for bravery.
Petersen was born August 24, 1875 in Hamburg, Germany, and after entering the navy he was sent as a Chief Machinist to China to fight in the Boxer Rebellion.
He died November 17, 1971, and is buried in Clover Leaf Memorial Park Woodbridge, New Jersey. His grave can be found in the clover section, plot 285, grave 1.
Medal of Honor
Rank and organization: Chief Machinist, U.S. Navy.
Place and date: Peking, China, 28 June to 17 August 1900.
Entered service at: New Jersey. Born: 24 August 1875, Hamburg, Germany.
G.O. No.: 55, 19 July 1901.
Citation: In the presence of the enemy during the action at Peking, China, 28 June to 17 August 1900. During this period Chief Machinist Petersen distinguished himself by meritorious conduct.
Famous New Jersey Mason
Carl Emil Petersen was a Chief Machinist for the United States Navy during the Boxer Rebellion. He received the Congressional Medal of Honor on July 19, 1901 for "meritorious conduct in the presence of the enemy" during the action at Peking, China, June 28-August 17, 1900. Lodge: Americus 83 Residence: Woodbridge
China Relief Expedition
From Month/Year
January / 1900
To Month/Year
December / 1902
Description The China Relief Expedition was the United States military term for the rescue of diplomatic personnel, and other United States citizens, in the wake of the Boxer Rebellion. The China Relief Expedition was a multi-national effort and the United State
My Participation in This Battle or Operation
From Month/Year
January / 1900
To Month/Year
December / 1902
Last Updated: Mar 16, 2020
Personal Memories
People You Remember Received the Medal of Honor, 1900.
Memories Received the Medal of Honor, 1900. USS Newark Boxer Rebellion, 1900-1901
On 19 March 1900, she sailed for Hong Kong to rendezvous with the monitor Monadnock on 22 March and convoy that ship to Cavite, arriving on 3 April and staying there until sailing for Yokohama on 24 April, arriving three days later. The ship then hoisted the flag of Rear Admiral Louis Kempff, Assistant-Commander of the Asiatic Station and sailed on 20 May for China to help land reinforcements to relieve the legations under siege by the Boxers at Peking. Arriving Tientsin on 22 May, Newark operated in that port and out of Taku and Chefoo, protecting American interests and aiding the relief expedition under Vice Admiral Edward Hobart Seymour, R.N., until sailing at the end of July for Kure, Japan, and then Cavite where she hoisted the pennant of the Senior Squadron Commander in the Philippines. She sailed for home in mid-April 1901, via Hong Kong, Ceylon and Suez, arriving Boston late July 1901. She decommissioned there on 29 July.
Medal of Honor 
