John Twiggs Myers (1871 - 1951)

Ancestors

Contents 1 Biography 2 Lt. General John Twiggs Myers' Medals 3 Early Life 3.1 Military Training 3.2 Military Career 3.3 Military Recognition 3.4 Spanish-American War 3.5 Philippine-American War 3.5.1 USS Charleston Grounded 3.6 The Boxer Rebellion 4 Hollywood Films 5 Official U.S. Marine Corps Lt. General's Flag 6 Sources

Biography

Lt. General John Twiggs Myers' Medals

Left to Right; Top: Brevet Medal, Purple Heart, Expeditionary Medal, Spanish Campaign Medal; Bottom: Philippine Campaign Medal, China Relief Expedition, Mexican Service Medal, World War I Victory Medal w/ Armed Guard Clasp.

Marine Corps Officer.

Early Life

John Myers, known later as 'Handsome Jack' to his military colleauges, was born in Wiesbaden, Germany on January 29, 1871. He was the fourth son of Colonel Abraham Charles Myers, Confederate Quartermaster General and Ms. Marion Twiggs, who was the daughter of Major General David Twiggs, known as the 'Bengal Tiger', of the Mexican-American War era.

With the fall of the Confederacy in 1865, John's parents fled to Germany, living in Wiesbaden, where John was born. They returned to America in 1876, settling in the Washington D.C. area, when John was five years old.

Military Training

John attended the United States Naval Academy and graduated in the class of 1892, just three years after his father died. Jack's mother, Marion, lived to see her son graduate, however, she died a year later at the age of 55. He was appointed an Assistant Engineer two years later.

Military Career

When Jack graduated from the Naval War College, he became a naval engineer, but in 1895 he transferred to the Marine Corps.

Jack was a graduate of the Naval War College.

In March 1895 he was commissioned a second lieutenant in the United States Marines Corps. The city of Fort Myers, Florida was originally named for J.T. Myers' father.

Military Recognition

In 1896 he became a Hereditary Companion of the Military Order of Foreign Wars by right of his father's service in the Mexican War. He was later eligible to become a Veteran Companion in the Order by right of his own service in the Spanish–American War, Boxer Rebellion, Philippine Insurrection and First World War.^[1]

Military Order of Foreign Wars Insignia

Spanish-American War

Three years later, at the start of the Spanish-American War, Jack was in San Francisco, and was assigned to the USS Charleston that sailed to the Phillipines, transporting troops.

Halftone photograph of Charleston at the entrance to the harbor of Agana, Guam, 20-21 June 1898, when she captured the island from the Spanish. Photo taken by Rear Admiral Ammen Farenholthttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Bernstein2291~commonswiki[2]

The Capture of Guam was a bloodless event between the United States and the Kingdom of Spain during the Spanish-American War. The U.S. Navy sent a single cruiser, the USS Charleston, to capture the island of Guam, then under Spanish control. However, the Spanish garrison on the island had no knowledge of the war and no real defenses

During the Philippine-American War, Jack led several amphibious landings against the Filipino Rebels in 1899, gaining recognition for his heroic conduct. He was then promoted to Captain of that same year.^[3]

Philippine-American War

During the Philippine-American War, Myers led several amphibious landings against Filipino rebels in 1899, gaining recognition for his heroic conduct. He was promoted to captain some time in 1899. The Philippine conflict arose when the First Philippine Republic objected to the terms of the Treaty of Paris under which the United States took possession of the Philippines from Spain.^[4]

The Philippino Katipuneros.

USS Charleston Grounded

Charleston grounded on an uncharted reef near Camiguin Island north of Luzon on 2 November 1899. Wrecked beyond salvage, she was abandoned by all her crew, who made camp on a nearby island, later moving on to Camiguin while the ship's sailing launch was sent for help. On 12 November, gunboat Helena (PG-9) arrived to rescue the shipwrecked men. Charleston was the first steel-hulled ship lost by the US Navy.^[5]

The Boxer Rebellion

Allied forces atttack the Beijing Castle in 1900.

In May of 1900, Myers was sent China aboard the cruiser USS Newark and put ashore with a detachment of 48 Marines to guard the US Legation in Peking, just as the Boxer Rebellion broke out.

Diagram showing locations of foreign diplomatic legations in Peking during the Boxer siege, 1900..

"July 3rd. There was a successful attack by a mixed force on the enemy's trenches and barricades. The force consisted of 27 British, 14 Americans, and 15 Russians. The attack started at 2:30 a.m. under Captain Myers, U.S. Marines, and succeeded in driving the enemy from his positions at the point of the bayonet, in occupying the trenches and barricades, and in inflicting severe loss, also capturing banners, arms, and ammunition. Our losses were Corporal William Gregory, severely wounded in the foot, and Private W.T. Woodward; the Americans had two privates killed and Captain Myers severely wounded; and the Russians had two wounded." as described by Sir William Laird^[6]

Myers' Marines occupied a wall defending the Legations, and led an attack, with Russian and British troops, and took part in a ferocious battle. Myers was wounded in the leg by a spear. His attack was claimed by Sir Claude Maxwell MacDonald, as "one of the most successful operations of the siege".

USS Newark Cruiser Portside.

Myers was brevetted Major and advanced four numbers in rank. In 1921, Myers would also become one of only 20 living Marines to be awarded the USMC Brevet Medal when that decoration was created.

Lt. General Myers one out only 20 living Marines to receive this medal.

Upon recovering from his wounds, he served as the Provost Marshal on American Samoa and was then trasferred to the Marine Barracks at Bremerton, Washington.^[7]

Hollywood Films

In spite of the fact that few people know of John Twiggs Myers, he has been portrayed in two Hollywood films that incorporate his service as a U. S. Marine officer.

55 Days at Peking - An Historic Epic Film.

The first film was titled 55 Days at Peking, starring Charlton Heston in the role of Myers, a chap named Major Matt Lewis commanding the Marines during the Boxer Rebellion.

Adventure film based on the real-life Perdicaris Incident of 1904.

In the second film, titled The Wind and the Lion, Steve Kanaly plays the role of Captain Jerome, which in the actual event, was John Twiggs Myers.^[8]

Official U.S. Marine Corps Lt. General's Flag

U.S. Marine Corps Lieutenant General's Flag.

A Veteran's Salute to Lt. General John T. Myers, "Handsome Jack' of the United States Marine Corps. Thank you for your patriotism and service to your country!

Sources

1. ↑ John Twiggs Myers; courtesy of Wikipedia
2. ↑ [www.history.navy.mil/photos/sh-usn/usnsh-c/c2.thm]
3. ↑ Capture of Guam; courtesy of Wikipedia
4. ↑ Philippine-American War; courtesy of Wikipedia
5. ↑ USS Charleston; Wikipedia
6. ↑ The Royal Navy A History from the earliest times to the present; by Clowes, W. Laird (William Laird, Sir 1856-1905, et al.
7. ↑ John Twiggs Myers; Wikipedia
8. ↑ Handsome Jack of the Marines; by Mustang

• http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/1999/10/14/met_273002.shtml#.WCo-Y3eZMo8