William Seach

Four battles in China earned this sailor the Medal of Honor.

William Seach was born in London, England, on 23 May 1877. He entered the U.S. Navy in 1898 and served as an ordinary seaman attached to USS Newark during the Boxer Rebellion. Across four days in June 1900, he fought with the Allied relief expedition in China.

On 13 June, Seach and six other men repelled an attack by about 300 Chinese imperial soldiers and Boxer fighters with a bayonet charge. On 20 June, he crossed exposed ground to attack sniper positions. The next day, he defended gun emplacements during a cavalry assault. On 22 June, his party breached a fort, captured artillery, and turned the guns against its defenders.

Navy General Order No. 55 of 19 July 1901 authorized his Medal of Honor. The Congressional Medal of Honor Society records its presentation in 1903. His citation recognizes distinguished conduct across all four engagements.

Seach continued his naval career and reported service in the Haitian campaign of 1915. During World War I he served aboard USS President Lincoln, a transatlantic troop transport. German submarine U-90 torpedoed the ship on 31 May 1918, and Seach survived its sinking. His transport service supports the World War I Victory Medal's Transport clasp.

He attained the rank of lieutenant and retired in 1923. Seach died in Brockton, Massachusetts, on 24 October 1978, aged 101, and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery. His naval career linked the China relief fighting with wartime service in the Atlantic.

Medal of Honor citation

In action with the relief expedition of the Allied forces in China during the battles of 13, 20, 21, and 22 June 1900. June 13: Seach and six others were cited for their courage in repulsing an attack by 300 Chinese Imperialist soldiers and Boxer militants with a bayonet charge, thus thwarting a planned massive attack on the entire force. June 20: During a day-long battle, Seach ran across an open clearing, gained cover, and cleaned out nests of Chinese snipers. June 21: During a surprise saber attack by Chinese cavalrymen, Seach was cited for defending gun emplacements. June 22: Seach and others breached the wall of a Chinese fort, fought their way to the enemy's guns, and turned the cannon upon the defenders of the fort. Throughout this period and in the presence of the enemy, Seach distinguished himself by meritorious conduct.