Harry C. Beasley
Encyclopedia
Harry C. Beasley was a United States Navy
seaman
received the Medal of Honor
for actions during the United States occupation of Veracruz, 1914
. He also served as a police officer in Newark, Ohio
, where he was killed in the line of duty by unknown gunmen in 1931.
. After joining the United States Navy
, Beasley served as a seaman
on board the .
Shortly after being award the Medal of Honor in 1914 for actions during United States occupation of Veracruz, Beasley left the Navy. However, he reenlisted during World War I
and served until 1921, eventually reaching the rank of Chief Petty Officer
.
Coincidentally, he also shares his name with Ongar-residing legend, Harry J. Beasley.
, serving as an armed Navy sailor (known as "Bluejackets") tasked with capturing the city's Customs House. Led by Ensign George M. Lowry
, Beasley's company was pinned down by "murderous rifle and machine-gun fire." Not wanting to risk his entire company, Lowry asked for volunteers to approach the Custom's House from the side. Five men volunteered: Beasley, Joseph G. Harner, Coxswain J. F. Schumaker, Boatswain's Mate Second Class George Cregan
, and Seaman Lawrence C. Sinnett
.
Lowry led the volunteers into a narrow alley, where they came under a cross fire from riflemen in the Custom's Building and machine gunners in a nearby hotel. During this fighting, "A bullet clipped one of the buttons off Lowry's cap and another tore through his right legging, creasing the flesh. Beasley was slightly wounded, and Schumaker was shot through the head."
After his men were able to silence the machine gunners with return rifle fire, Lowry called for a corpsman to help Schumaker. Hospital Apprentice First Class William Zuiderveld
ran down the alley and tried to stop the flow of blood from Schumaker's head, but was unable to do so. Schumaker soon died.
Once Zuiderveld carried Schumaker to the rear, Lowry and his surviving men worked their way up the alley and scaled the wall around the Custom's House. After Lowry and his men smashed through a window of the Custom's House, the personnel inside surrendered. Several days later, Lowry returned to the scene and counted twelve bullet impacts on the wall where his men had climbed it.
Beasley, along with almost all of the men who volunteered for the attack, received the Medal of Honor
for his actions.
, Ohio
. His grave can be found in section 16, lot 123.
Beasley's Medal of Honor and other military awards are on display in the lobby of the Newark Police Department, having been donated by his surviving relatives.
Citation:
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
seaman
Seaman
Seaman is one of the lowest ranks in a Navy. In the Commonwealth it is the lowest rank in the Navy, followed by Able Seaman and Leading Seaman, and followed by the Petty Officer ranks....
received the Medal of Honor
Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
for actions during the United States occupation of Veracruz, 1914
United States occupation of Veracruz, 1914
The United States occupation of Veracruz, which began with the Battle of Veracruz, lasted for six months and was a response to the Tampico Affair of April 9, 1914...
. He also served as a police officer in Newark, Ohio
Newark, Ohio
In addition, the remains of a road leading south from the Octagon have been documented and explored. It was first surveyed in the 19th century, when its walls were more apparent. Called the Great Hopewell Road, it may extend to the Hopewell complex at Chillicothe, Ohio...
, where he was killed in the line of duty by unknown gunmen in 1931.
Life
Beasley was born in 1888 in Newark, OhioNewark, Ohio
In addition, the remains of a road leading south from the Octagon have been documented and explored. It was first surveyed in the 19th century, when its walls were more apparent. Called the Great Hopewell Road, it may extend to the Hopewell complex at Chillicothe, Ohio...
. After joining the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
, Beasley served as a seaman
Seaman
Seaman is one of the lowest ranks in a Navy. In the Commonwealth it is the lowest rank in the Navy, followed by Able Seaman and Leading Seaman, and followed by the Petty Officer ranks....
on board the .
Shortly after being award the Medal of Honor in 1914 for actions during United States occupation of Veracruz, Beasley left the Navy. However, he reenlisted during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
and served until 1921, eventually reaching the rank of Chief Petty Officer
Chief Petty Officer
A chief petty officer is a senior non-commissioned officer in many navies and coast guards.-Canada:"Chief Petty Officer" refers to two ranks in the Canadian Navy...
.
Coincidentally, he also shares his name with Ongar-residing legend, Harry J. Beasley.
Service during United States occupation of Veracruz
In 1914, Beasley took part in the United States occupation of Veracruz, 1914United States occupation of Veracruz, 1914
The United States occupation of Veracruz, which began with the Battle of Veracruz, lasted for six months and was a response to the Tampico Affair of April 9, 1914...
, serving as an armed Navy sailor (known as "Bluejackets") tasked with capturing the city's Customs House. Led by Ensign George M. Lowry
George M. Lowry
George Maus Lowry served as a Rear Admiral in the United States Navy. He received the Medal of Honor for actions during the United States occupation of Veracruz, 1914.-Life:...
, Beasley's company was pinned down by "murderous rifle and machine-gun fire." Not wanting to risk his entire company, Lowry asked for volunteers to approach the Custom's House from the side. Five men volunteered: Beasley, Joseph G. Harner, Coxswain J. F. Schumaker, Boatswain's Mate Second Class George Cregan
George Cregan
George Cregan was a Coxswain in the United States Navy and a Medal of Honor recipient for his role in the United States occupation of Veracruz....
, and Seaman Lawrence C. Sinnett
Lawrence C. Sinnett
Lawrence C. Sinnett was a Seaman in the United States Navy and a Medal of Honor recipient for his role in the United States occupation of Veracruz....
.
Lowry led the volunteers into a narrow alley, where they came under a cross fire from riflemen in the Custom's Building and machine gunners in a nearby hotel. During this fighting, "A bullet clipped one of the buttons off Lowry's cap and another tore through his right legging, creasing the flesh. Beasley was slightly wounded, and Schumaker was shot through the head."
After his men were able to silence the machine gunners with return rifle fire, Lowry called for a corpsman to help Schumaker. Hospital Apprentice First Class William Zuiderveld
William Zuiderveld
William Zuiderveld was a United States Navy Hospital Apprentice First Class. He received the Medal of Honor for actions during the United States occupation of Veracruz, 1914....
ran down the alley and tried to stop the flow of blood from Schumaker's head, but was unable to do so. Schumaker soon died.
Once Zuiderveld carried Schumaker to the rear, Lowry and his surviving men worked their way up the alley and scaled the wall around the Custom's House. After Lowry and his men smashed through a window of the Custom's House, the personnel inside surrendered. Several days later, Lowry returned to the scene and counted twelve bullet impacts on the wall where his men had climbed it.
Beasley, along with almost all of the men who volunteered for the attack, received the Medal of Honor
Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
for his actions.
Later life and death
After the war Beasley returned to his hometown of Newark and, in 1926, became a police officer with the city's police department. During the evening of June 30, 1931, Beasley was walking a downtown beat when "he was gunned down by an armed gang attempting the theft of a safe from a local shoe store." He died two days later from multiple gunshot wounds; his killers were never identified or caught. Beasley is buried in Cedar Hill Cemetery, NewarkNewark, Ohio
In addition, the remains of a road leading south from the Octagon have been documented and explored. It was first surveyed in the 19th century, when its walls were more apparent. Called the Great Hopewell Road, it may extend to the Hopewell complex at Chillicothe, Ohio...
, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
. His grave can be found in section 16, lot 123.
Beasley's Medal of Honor and other military awards are on display in the lobby of the Newark Police Department, having been donated by his surviving relatives.
Medal of Honor citation
Rank and organization: Seaman, U.S. Navy. Born: November 1, 1888 Ohio. Accredited to: Ohio. G.O. No.: 101, June 15, 1914.Citation:
On board the U.S.S. Florida for extraordinary heroism in the line of his profession during the seizure of Vera Cruz, Mexico, April 21, 1914.
See also
- List of Medal of Honor recipients (Veracruz)