William Zion

William F. Zion (October 23, 1872 – March 25, 1919) was a United States Marine private who received the Medal of Honor during the China Relief Expedition.

William F. Zion
Born(1872-10-23)October 23, 1872
Knightstown, Indiana
DiedMarch 25, 1919(1919-03-25) (aged 46)
Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia
Place of burial
Chattanooga National Cemetery
AllegianceUnited States of America
Service/branchUnited States Marine Corps
United States Army
Years of service1899–1904 (Marine Corps)
1905–1919 (Army)
RankPrivate (Marine Corps)
First Lieutenant (Army)
Battles/warsChina Relief Expedition
*Battle of Peking
World War I
AwardsMedal of Honor

Biography

William Zion was born in Knightstown, Indiana on October 23, 1872. He served in the United States Marine Corps and later in the United States Army. In 1900, he was awarded the Medal of Honor for his "meritorious conduct" as a Marine in China.

He later become a United States Army First Lieutenant.[1]

During World War I he was in charge of a German POW barracks in Fort Oglethorpe.[2]

Zion died on March 25, 1919 of an apparent accidental gunshot wound inflicted while cleaning his weapon.[2] Lieutenant Zion is buried in the Chattanooga National Cemetery.[3]

According to Sydney Gumpertz in his book The Jewish Legion of Valor, Zion was Jewish.

Medal of Honor citation

Rank and Organization: Private, U.S. Marine Corps. Born: October 23, 1872, Knightstown, Ind. Accredited to: California. G. O. No.: 55 July 19, 1901.

Citation:

In the presence of the enemy during the battle of Peking, China, July 21 to August 17, 1900. Throughout this period, Zion distinguished himself by meritorious conduct.[4]

See also

Notes
  1. Nofi, Albert A. (1997). "Four Marine Medal of Honor recipients Who Later Joined the Army". Marine Corps Book of Lists: A Definitive Compendium of Marine Corps Facts, Feats, and Traditions. DaCapo Press. p. 69. ISBN 0-938289-89-6.
  2. "2007 Memorial Day Torchlight Tour – Chattanooga National Cemetery". Missionary Ridge Camp No. 63, Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, Department of Tennessee. 2007. Retrieved October 31, 2008.
  3. "Notable Persons: Medal of Honor recipients". Cemeteries – Chattanooga National Cemetery. United States Department of Veterans Affairs. July 7, 2008. Retrieved October 31, 2008.
  4. "Pvt William Zion, Medal of Honor, 1901, China". Marines Awarded the Medal of Honor. History Division, United States Marine Corps. Archived from the original on January 18, 2007.

References
 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Marine Corps.


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