William Zion

William F. Zion
Born (1872-10-23)October 23, 1872
Knightstown, Indiana
Died March 25, 1919(1919-03-25) (aged 46)
Fort Oglethorpe (Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia), Georgia
Place of burial Chattanooga National Cemetery
Allegiance United States of America
Service/branch United States Marine Corps
United States Army
Years of service 1899 – 1904 (Marine Corps)
1905 – 1919 (Army)
Rank Private (Marine Corps)
First Lieutenant (Army)
Battles/wars China Relief Expedition
*Battle of Peking
World War I
Awards Medal of Honor

William F. Zion (October 23, 1872 March 25, 1919) was a United States Marine private received the Medal of Honor during the China Relief Expedition.

Biography

William Zion was born in Knightstown, Indiana on October 23, 1872. He served in the United States Marine Corps and later in the United States Army. In 1900, he was awarded the Medal of Honor for his "meritorious conduct" as a Marine in China.

He later become a United States Army First Lieutenant.[1]

During World War I he was in charge of a German POW barracks in Fort Oglethorpe.[2]

Zion died on March 25, 1919 of an apparent accidental gunshot wound inflicted while cleaning his weapon.[2] Lieutenant Zion is buried in the Chattanooga National Cemetery.[3][4]

According to Sydney Gumpertz in his book The Jewish Legion of Valor, Zion was Jewish.

Medal of Honor citation

Rank and Organization: Private, U.S. Marine Corps. Born: October 23, 1872, Knightstown, Ind. Accredited to: California. G. O. No.: 55 July 19, 1901.

Citation:

In the presence of the enemy during the battle of Peking, China, July 21 to August 17, 1900. Throughout this period, Zion distinguished himself by meritorious conduct.[5]

See also

Notes

  1. Nofi, Albert A. (1997). "Four Marine Medal of Honor recipients Who Later Joined the Army". Marine Corps Book of Lists: A Definitive Compendium of Marine Corps Facts, Feats, and Traditions. DaCapo Press. p. 69. ISBN 0-938289-89-6.
  2. 1 2 "2007 Memorial Day Torchlight Tour – Chattanooga National Cemetery". Missionary Ridge Camp No. 63, Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, Department of Tennessee. 2007. Retrieved October 31, 2008.
  3. "William Zion". Claim to Fame: Medal of Honor recipients. Find a Grave. Retrieved October 24, 2007.
  4. "Notable Persons: Medal of Honor recipients". Cemeteries – Chattanooga National Cemetery. United States Department of Veterans Affairs. July 7, 2008. Retrieved October 31, 2008.
  5. "Pvt William Zion, Medal of Honor, 1901, China". Marines Awarded the Medal of Honor. History Division, United States Marine Corps. Archived from the original on February 20, 2007.

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Marine Corps.


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