William Zion

He served in besieged Peking before becoming an Army officer

William F. Zion was born at Knightstown, Indiana, on 23 October 1872. On 21 July 1899 he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps at Mare Island, California. He was twenty-six and began his service at a Pacific naval establishment from which American ships and their Marine detachments operated overseas.

Within a year he was in China. He belonged to the Marine detachment associated with USS Newark and Captain Newt H. Hall. As violence against foreigners and Chinese Christians spread during the Boxer uprising, foreign legations in Peking were placed under siege. Small naval and Marine detachments helped defend the people sheltering in the legation quarter against Chinese imperial troops and Boxer forces.

Zion served with the American legation guard during the siege of Peking.

His Medal of Honor recognized service throughout the fighting from 21 July to 17 August 1900. The award was announced in General Order 55 on 19 July 1901.

Zion continued in the Marine Corps after returning from China. He received an honourable discharge on 29 July 1904, completing five years in the service. The following year he began a second military career, enlisting in the United States Army on 5 August 1905. More than a decade of Army service followed before he accepted a second lieutenant's commission in July 1917, during the First World War. He eventually attained first lieutenant.

During the war he served at Fort Oglethorpe, where his duties included responsibility for German prisoners of war. He remained in the Army after the armistice and died in service on 25 March 1919, aged forty-six. He was buried in Chattanooga National Cemetery.

Medal of Honor citation

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