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Sins against Medal of Honor Robert Storr and his Descendants.

6/30/2019

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Rather than being short-sighted, these sins have also been, or will be,  against the current, past and future recipients of the Medal of Honor, as well as those of all US citizens. Yet even more, when  considering recipients of the medal came from probably over 30 different countries from  around the world.

But who... if anyone... is doing anything about it?

For the past several blogs I have been bringing you many stories about how racism has touched on the military and more specifically some of the recipients of the Commonwealth's Victoria Cross and the US's Medal of Honor. Even more to the point, a few of those who became victims who did not get the medals deserved.

In addition to these matters, since this blog's very beginning over 6 years ago I have often mentioned the horrible Purge of 1916-17 that resulted in over 900 Medals of Honor being removed from American's lists of MOH recipients. Worse yet almost completely removed, illegally I will yet again state, from the history books of the country, its medal and its people. In addition, the purge was in many a conversation I have had over the dozen plus years pre this blog's birth.

The story of Medal of Honor recipient Robert Storr, beginning a few blogs back, falls into two categories... racism and the purge.  To tell these, I must go back some 157 years to the very creation of the army and navy versions of the medal.

Had it not been for stubborn leadership, the army would have had the honor of being the first to have a medal created for their service members. But alas, that honor fell to the navy.

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During the above Congressional session on 9 December 1861,  this bill was introduced calling for the creation of a Medal of Honor for the US Navy. Just 11 days later, President Abraham Lincoln signed the bill.  21 December 1861 became the Navy,  Marines and Revenue Services (today's Coast Guard) Medal of Honor's date of birth.

Please forgive the cut and past from an earlier blog... but below refers to back in 1862...

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With the 12 July signing by President Lincoln, the US Army now had its own Medal of Honor.

During the Civil War years it is possible that some of the medals were awarded by special acts for individuals who took their cases directly to the senate... and they in turn to Congress. But for the most part medals were awarded under the signature of the President after going though several steps starting at the unit level and on up through the chain of command all the way to DC.  But for most awards, in that war, they were covered by the above 2 acts. With minor alterations up until the late 1800's

One change very quickly appeared changing the temporary status of an award during the  Rebellion, to a permanent medal for all time in the military. Another soon extended the authority for medals to be awarded to army officers during the war, a right not extended till many, many years later for the naval medal.

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Here we see the front and back of an army version of the Civil War Medal of Honor. The navy uses the image of a anchor in  place of the army's cannon and balls.  The army version is the very first medal awarded and went to   Jacob Parrott  of the famous Andrews Raiders, noted often in  earlier blogs.

At the right is a badge of membership from the late 1800's and early 1900's widely popular Grand Army of the Republic. Note the incredible similarity. One easily thought from a distance to be a MOH, whilst of course it is just a club membership badge.

Then comes story of the 27th Maine Infantry, extension of services in the time of need, even be it only for a few days, the promise of Medals of Honor for complying and the eventual circulation of over 900 medals. It would  become what is now the biggest scandal associated with the MOH, though few appear to care less about it today.

Into that quagmire fell Robert Storr, even though  never a member of the 27th.

The Maine regiment's story has oft appeared here. The gist of the matter is that  about 300 were entitled to medals as promised by Lincoln, and fully within his powers to do. But bureaucratic bumbling resulted in about 900 medals for the 27th.  Just over 300 would have been just fine!

Over the years advancing to 1900 many folks were complaining about the massive amount of Medals of Honor floating about. Some 900 with the 27th Maine, others who's conduct was far short of heroism and the confusion by many that the fellow down the street walking their way looked like a MOH man when simply a GAR member.

Several calls for federal action to deal with this came together with the governments creation of a pension for medaled men. So they decided that a Roll of Honor should be made, and only hose listed therein, would be entitled to the  pension.

But who should be added to that list???

Again with the use of cutting and pasting from an earlier blog...

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Six and 1/2 years ago I brought you the above blog. It notes  that we must not compare the deeds of 150 years ago against the deeds of today to see if one equates to the other. Different times called for different acknowledgements by way of the Medals of Honor. In 1865 the US had one medal for actions needed acknowledgement. Today they have over 30  medals for these purposes.

The law as written in the 1860's and noted above could have been written more clearly.  It however made it very clear that bravery in the face of the enemy was not a requirement in every case. Thus the 27th Maine medals, while they should have been limited to about 300... were legal. So too for the Storr medal.

So, getting back to the pension list...

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The original purpose of the list was to gather info on who had been awarded the Medal of Honor and thus, were to receive pensions in thanks for this service.

If you look at the above document it introduces a caveat, (NOT in the materials, as evidenced by the very board formed via the above document,) that only those who were awarded for actions in the face of the enemy would be honored further by receiving a pension. 


This was not part of the discussions by  the congress. It was an add on by bureaucrats without any authority what soever to make the change.

Those from the 27th, at least the 300, were awarded for volunteering to stay on duty after their original terms of service had expired. That extra service, though only a few days long, was NOT in the face of the enemy, nor was it so required, to be eligible to be added to the new Honor Roll. as outlined by congress. But because of underlings, they were refused such entry on such rolls.


Nor did Congress require the return of medals earned whilst not in the face of the enemy. But the bureaucrats claimed this power... using the PFA factor... plucked from air...  I guess... and again  forcing the purge generals to do what they were told.. not what they thought was right.

The actions were in violation of the US constitution in a number of sections  re depriving of possessions, the rule of law and the right to be heard etc, and being disallowed pensions they were entitled to.

Still more to come on this, but length dictates leaving it till next Sunday, July 7th.

Happy 1st and 4th to those north and south of the 49th.

Bart



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He gave his life to his adopted county. In turn, it committed sins against family left behind! Sins remaining to this very day!

6/23/2019

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Last week this blog started to tell you the tragic story of Robert Storr.

Within 2 years of his  London marriage, husband and wife   were blessed with the birth of a baby girl. But within 2 years the mother had passed away from illness. Within another few years Robert made the decision to move to America. His father Solomon agreed to be the interim guardian knowing the plan called for the child joining Robert as soon as she could be sent for.

But life had other plans.

In early May 1861 Robert signed up with the 15th New York Infantry as a volunteer. Within a month the unit was renamed the 15th NY Engineers and attached to the Army of the Potomac.

About 14 months later Private Storr's unit would find itself building bridges in the Peninsular campaign of south eastern Virginia, during the siege of Yorktown.

Here's a picture of one of the bridges they built, crossing the Anacosta River. It had a span of about 1,300 feet, and was built in an incredibly low...  25 1/2 minutes.  


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It was while building no doubt a similar bridge along the James  River that Robert Storr came utterly exhausted from labour in watery conditions that led to his taking a day to recover. But insisting on returning to be with his mates at work he would again almost collapse from exhaustion. This soon  led to a fever setting in, a trip to recovery and ultimately being shipped off to the New York city camp at Saint David where he would die from Typhoid Fever. He was only 27 years old and had completed only  12 1/2  months of service before losing his life for his adopted country.

This at the very time that the NY Council of Hygiene estimated that some 15,300 homes were affected by the fever.


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Here we see President Abraham Lincoln's 3rd son, age 5,  who would also lose his life before reaching the age of 13 from the dreaded fever at Washington DC. His remains would be put in the same funeral car, one of 8, that would take the long journey some 1,600 miles in 1865 to carry the body of the assassinated President from DC to Illinois for burial.

The funeral car used  was originally built as a touring car for the president, then  refitted as a funeral car. In both operations one of the labourers was an orphan from Canada, who later moved to the US. Upon entering the Civil War, he would earn the Medal of Honor.  His surname was Allen and his story had been in earlier blogs in this space.

So too with an Atlantic Canadian by the name of Hanna, also a Medal of Honor recipient, for guarding this very funeral car en-route to its final destination in 1865. (Stories also already appearing here.)

Robert was very well liked and respected in his regiment. In particular, his chaplain, his captain and even his commanding officer had powerful words of praise for his soldiering skills and dedication, no matter the cost, to the jobs at hand.

Read between the lines of this letter from his chaplain and know that that these sorts of traits can be found in the words of recommendation used in many a medaled soldier or sailor before they were later  awarded their actual Medals of Honor.

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Four days later, and no doubt long before the letter arrived at the shores of London, Pte Robert Storr died at the hospital in New York. 
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Here we see the dates of service of his regiment and from Muster rolls,  a brief description of his own service ending in death at St David's, and location being shown with the red balloon on above greater NY city and area map.

In the late 1860's Robert's father Solomon applied, successfully, from London for a guardians survivor pension to help support his parent-less granddaughter's care and upbringing.

In September 1871 the late Robert Storr was awarded a posthumous Medal of Honor. Here are some of the details of the struggle before the medal was awarded.

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In 1873 Solomon Storr writes the pension office requesting an increase in the pension amount then allowable when applied for. Here's that letter... Note his pride of ownership in the Medal of Honor he then wore on occasion, though the wearing may have been limited by law to the recipient named.  
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The real tragedy has yet to come, but I will need the next full blog to lay it out. So, while I am not schedualed to bring another blog next week, I will bring one to conclude this little mini series on Robert Storr, yet another forgotten hero.

so, see you next Sunday.
Bart

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"Visiting Cemeteries is like Walking into a Library."

6/16/2019

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So says my good friend and fellow amateur  military historian John Azar of Victoria B.C.

In a recent press story he claimed that looking along the row of grave markers, is like looking along the book shelves. Stopping to read the markers is akin to read the individual titles displayed. Following up with further research is akin to opening up the book.

And all of this amounts to better understanding, remembering, and honouring those who came before us and left us the country, life and freedoms we treasure today.

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Here we see many rows of graves. They are located just a few minutes out of the Washington DC area  at the internationally acclaimed Arlington National Cemetery.

Of the tens of thousands of graves located here are the final resting places of over 400 Medal of Honor recipients. Among these are about a dozen Canadian recipients  and another dozen Canadian non recipients.

The centerpiece of course is the Cross of Sacrifice that with US permission, was constructed and donated by Canada and unveiled on November 11th 1927. Canada's Prime Minster, the US President and other dignitaries of the day  acknowledged the  exchange of Canadians in the US Military and the Americans in Canadian units.

This very cross being presented in honour of those from about 40,000 Americans that went off to war with Canada and that many gave their lives for the cause during the Great War. In later years similar plaques where attached representing those who so served and paid with their lives during WWll and Korea whilst in Canadian uniform.

Going back to John's graves and libraries, I would like to add another thought.

When we look for a newspaper we often look for the one with the biggest and most interesting headline of the day. Like the grocery store tabloid. The one with the weirdest headline gets the sale. Recently no doubt on certain DC topics. hehe.

Along the same lines, the one with the shiniest surface get the attention. If you go back to some of the earliest blogs here, you can read about one of the thoughts in the minds of the decision makers when actually proposing the creation of Medals of Honor back on Civil War days. The story of the kid sitting on a bench and telling authorities that all the  medals of foreign soldiers impressed him. But in those days the Americans had none. They'd soon change that!

These markers tell the same tale.  

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The top 2 markers are for  Lindsay Ontario born Denis Buckley. The 2nd two are grave markers for Zorra Ontario born Benjamin Youngs, and the bottom two are markers for Nova Scotia born Joseph Noil.

All three men ..or should I say boys... are Medal of Honor recipients, but not one of the original 3 markers tells you this. In  fact 2 of the 3 even have the names misspelled. Yet further complicating matters, the stones are so old they are almost unreadable.

Efforts by several folks including myself have resulted in correct clean looking new markers with proper spelling and notation of hero status of those buried. Information enough for the onlooker who will no doubt read the marker because now it stands out from all the rest in  the immediate area. This will possibly result in some note taking, and subsequent  research. This will of course result  in further preservation of the story, and the added bonus of possibly even sharing the information with others.

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Though not seen in this image..the line of graves is long to the left and right and deep  as well. And as you can see the markers all seem to be the same. Nothing to draw your eyes to a special marker to research.

This is a crying shame! And a tragedy on several fronts. Robert Storr is the subject of this blog and his marker is at the left. His date of birth was not 1840 but possibly 1836.or 1837.

Robert was from London England. He got married and within short order he and wife celebrated the birth of their daughter Florence in Jan 1858. But wife Alice took ill and died within 16 months of the child's birth. By November of 1859 Robert had signed over guardianship of his daughter to his father Soloman, who was then in his mid 50's.

Promising to send for her when he could, he  rode the train to Liverpool and boarded a vessel for America.

In 1861 he joined the US Army, signing up with the 15th NY infantry, but with months that regiment became the 15th NY Engineer. It seems he would be employed in the building of temporary pontoon bridges as quickly as possible for almost immediate crossing of rivers so that others could carry out surprise attacks on the enemy.

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This bridge was built across the Anacosta River for a length of 1300 feet..in only 25 1/2 minutes..and by the 15th NY Engineers. (Not sure if Robert was in the crew)

Soon tragedy would again strike for Robert.

 But more on that next Sunday.

Bart

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blog delayed till next Sunday...

6/9/2019

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Health and computer problems have slowed me down this week. That and some great info being sorted through re the next hero to be highlighted in this space.

All should be in order to be shared with you next Sunday.

Sorry yet again, for another postponement. But I hope you will agree it will be worth it.

Cheers,
Bart

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Recent News on the Medal of Honor Front

6/2/2019

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Frustratingly, I still await some updates regarding the Medal of Honor, the Victoria Cross  and  discrimination played in the military services of Canada, the US and Britain over the years.

But until a few answers come in, I cannot bring that series of blogs to a close. I will however move on to others until my inbound emails bring the gems sought.

Back in early March  Riverside National Medal of Honor Memorial, located at the Riverside California cemetery  held an early celebration of the national Medal of Honor Day, usually celebrated on March 25th across the country. 

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The memorial is one of only 4 such official memorials across the U.S., though there are numerous museums etc and room for many more.

The lower picture, without the folks shown should be familiar to regular visitors to these blogs as it has appeared often. I have had the incredible honour of visiting the Riverside site several times. It is gorgeous and forces you to stop and do some real reflection several times as you view the many  attractions, the kiosk that gives details of the more than 3,000 medal recipients, the Missing in Action and POW memorial..a national historic site in itself, and much more.


But the real treasure is in the etched names  on the black granite walls of  each recipient, less of course the purge men of 1916. These engraved  names are shown to the left of the unknown gentleman in the lower picture. Beside him are four woman representing The Gold Star Wives of America, who's members are widows who have lost a  spouse in active service to the nation. The Gold Star Mothers... another group mentioned in past blogs has an interesting Canadian connection, available to those who use  the search engine at upper right of this page.

The above image shows the pink granite doorway, if you will, to enter the memorial listing all of the MOH men and one woman. Though dark, you can see the images of blocks, each containing names of hundreds of recipients. Of the 39 blocks I believe I counted 31 containing names of Canadian recipients, or with connections to Canada.


In the above picture, to the right of the title block you can  see 3 blocks of names if you look very hard. Below these is a small reflective pool of water. When first there, the sun was so bright that I was blinded as I entered the area and marched RIGHT INTO the pool, with several folks rushing to help me out of my predicament. Wish I wasn't wearing my well labelled CANADA hat that day!

Surrounding the memorial is the actual massive cemetery. It is here that there are five Medal of Honor recipients at rest. There five names have now also been affixed to the Memorial's title block and you can clearly see the name of one of these...Lewis Millett to the right of one of the Gold Star  women shown above.

Millett's story of heroism and indeed his entire military career is fascinating and, whist an American, served for a time if the Canadian forces. His story is often mentioned in past blogs and, again, is found by using the search engine.

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Here we see the Colonel in his senior years, but still looking like someone you would not want to tangle with. HIs training in the Canadian Forces taught him how to use the bayonet, a skill he had not had in the US training  prior to desertion to join the Canadians. He would later return to the US forces and become a hero before they realized he was a deserter and just about to be promoted. His service file is full of real gems... like the fact that his constant bayonet drills of his troops would lead to what has been claimed to be the first bayonet charge since Civil War days.

Another was in his pride  at being the only Colonel that got the Medal of Honor and was a deserter. Yet another was that he loved his Canadian war medals though not allowed to wear them on his US uniforms. So he had then mounted them with velcro UNDERNEATH his other medals and would show them to friends when no one else was around.

It should also be mentioned that he lost a son in service, another served honourably and in later life, as a sculpturist is the very creator of the MIA/POW national memorial at Riverside and probably viewed by millions annually.

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On March 25th the Allen County Ohio Museum unveiled a new memorial for MOH recipients. At least 3 of these connected to the state have Canadian connections. A historian is shown here having a look at a particular name, one of over 3,000 recipients listed.

To the left you can see the change in development of the army MOH ribbon from Civil War days , to a change in 1896 and the next in 1904.

Back in the Fall of 1990 President HW Bush signed Congressional documents that would, effective 25 March 1991, create what we now know of as Medal of Honor Day in the United States.

It was created to counter the public lack of knowledge of the Medal of Honor, its importance and the heroism of those wearing the medal.

On 25 March 1863 six survivors of a daring caper that went wrong, escaped and made it to Washington. They were sent off on a  200 mile journey into enemy territory. They'd then have to capture a train and travel between Atlanta Georgia and Chattanooga Tn and enroute, destroy some of the major bridges, rail line and telegraph lines.

The venture failed, many were caught and hung, the rest tortured and jailed under terrible conditions and six eventually escaped and made way to DC to tell of their story to the President and others. That day was 25 March, and thus President Bush choosing it as the day for the national holiday  and day to give thoughts to the medal and its thousands of recipients.

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The men became known as the Andrews Raiders, after their leader, a civilian spy by the name of James Andrews. The six above are..top left to right, Reddick, Pittenger and Bensinger. All curiously with the first  given name of William. The lower left to right are Elihu Mason,  Jacob Parrott and Robert Buffum.

The results of my interview with a relative of Jacob Parrott should show up in a site search.

Parrott being the youngest was voted by the other five to go first when all were presented medals on March 25 1863. His being the first is often quoted, but may not necessarily be correct. He was the first to be PRESENTED with the medal but others  would later be awarded for actions before the train caper took place  .      

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This is the Parrott Medal of Honor. A past  blog tells about my being given an image of the distant relative wearing the medal at about age five, probably on his front lawn. Quite cute and possibly a magazine front cover some day.

Here is the cover of a book from early days and perhaps one of the first ever issued actually listing all of the Medals of Honor the author found to date of publication. And one ought to assume as a Brig. General and Adjutant General of the US Army at the time, he would have access to some good information.   

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And here is a most interesting entry re the 6 first to get medals. Parrott not being the first by order, but the last and several months after some of the others.
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Moving along, here we see the US Vice President,visiting  Arlington National Cemetery and the Tomb bf the Unknown Soldiers on Memorial Day. The President was out of the country in Japan at the time.
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His remarks can still be heard on the net at... http://time.com/5596602/mike-pence-memorial-day-2019-arlington/

It is a good speech and notes throughout about our duty to keep the stories of these brave men alive each and every day of our lives. These blogs are just one of the ways I try to do just that.

Finally, my last thoughts today are on the cases of Montreal born Louis Chaput and St Johns Newfoundland born Thomas Kersey. Both are MOH men whose stories have appeared in this space in  the past.

Both will also be the recipients, of new MOH grave markers in the weeks to come, and as news is obtained, it will be passed along in this space.

Hope to see you next Sunday. Bring along a friend.

Bart
 


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    Author;
    Bart Armstrong, C.D.,
    Recipient, Sovereign's Medal for Volunteers 

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