Harry Westley Orndoff

He braved hostile fire with the Allied relief force in China

Harry Westley Orndoff was born in Sandusky, Ohio, and enlisted in the United States Marine Corps at Mare Island, California, on 17 October 1896. The Navy's named roll records Private Harry W. Orndoff in the Marine guard of USS Concord at the Battle of Manila Bay on 1 May 1898. He received the Dewey Medal for that service, which also qualified him for the Spanish Campaign Medal under the later expanded criteria.

In 1900, he served with the Marine detachment from USS Newark during the Boxer Rebellion. His Medal of Honor citation recognized distinguished conduct in the presence of the enemy during the Allied relief operations in China on 13, 20, 21 and 22 June. These were dangerous operations in which naval landing forces and Marines worked alongside other Allied troops.

Orndoff's Medal of Honor was authorized under General Order 55 of 19 July 1901. The Congressional Medal of Honor Society records its presentation on 10 December 1901. His service in China also qualified for the China Relief Expedition Medal. Marine Corps history records his medical discharge in 1901, ending a career that had taken him from California to the Philippines and China.

He died in July 1938 and was buried at Highland Park Cemetery in Cleveland, Ohio. His Medal of Honor preserves the memory of his conduct during the China relief operations, while the campaign medals place that action within his wider overseas service.

Medal of Honor citation

In action with the relief expedition of the Allied forces in China, 13, 20, 21, and 22 June 1900. During this period and in the presence of the enemy, Orndoff distinguished himself by meritorious conduct.

Citation source: https://www.cmohs.org/recipients/harry-w-orndoff