David Dixon Porter (USMC)

:"For the United States Navy Commodore in the Pacific, see David Porter (naval officer). For the American Civil War Naval officer, see David Dixon Porter."Infobox Military Person
name= David D. Porter
born= birth date|1877|4|29
died= Death date and age|1944|2|25|1877|4|29
placeofbirth= Washington, D.C.
placeofdeath= Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
placeofburial= Arlington National Cemetery Arlington, Virginia


caption= David Porter in his uniform
nickname=
allegiance=flag|United States of America
branch=
serviceyears=
rank= Major General
commands=
unit=
battles= Philippine-American War World War I
awards= Medal of Honor Marine Corps Brevet Medal
laterwork=
Major General David Dixon Porter (29 April 1877–25 February 1944), a Medal of Honor recipient, was a United States Marine Corps officer who served in the Philippine-American War and in World War I.

Biography

He was the son of Lieutenant Colonel Carlile Patterson Porter (1846–1914), USMC, grandson of Admiral David Dixon Porter (1813–1891), and great-grandson of Commodore David Porter (1780–1843).

Captain Porter received the Medal of Honor during the Philippine-American War for efforts in battle at the junction of the Cadacan and Sohoton Rivers, Samar on 17 November 1901. He was also one of the Officers involoved in Waller's march across Samar.

Porter retired from the Marine Corps after World War I and was promoted to Major General on the retired list.

He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery Arlington, Virginia. His grave can be found in section 2, lot 3479.findagrave|5799757 Retrieved on 2007-11-24]

Medal of Honor citation

For extraordinary heroism and eminent and conspicuous conduct in battle at the junction of the Cadacan and Sohoton Rivers, Samar, P. I., November 17, 1901.

Citation:

:In command of the columns upon their uniting ashore in the Sohoton Region, Col. Porter (then Capt.) made a surprise attack on the fortified cliffs and completely routed the enemy, killing 30 and capturing and destroying the powder magazine, 40 lantacas (guns), rice, food and cuartels. Due to his courage, intelligence, discrimination and zeal, he successfully led his men up the cliffs by means of bamboo ladders to a height of 200 feet. The cliffs were of soft stone of volcanic origin, in the nature of pumice and were honeycombed with caves. Tons of rocks were suspended in platforms held in position by vines and cables (known as bejuco) in readiness to be precipitated upon people below. After driving the insurgents from their position which was almost impregnable, being covered with numerous trails lined with poisoned spears, pits, etc., Col. Porter led his men across the river, scaled the cliffs on the opposite side, and destroyed the camps there. He and the men under his command overcame incredible difficulties and dangers in destroying positions which, according to reports from old prisoners, had taken 3 years to perfect, were held as a final rallying post, and were never before penetrated by white troops. Col. Porter also rendered distinguished public service in the presence of the enemy at Quinapundan River, Samar, Philippine Islands, on 26 October 1901.cite web
accessdate=
url=http://www.usmc.mil/moh.nsf/000003c919889c0385255f980058f5b6/0000033ba9f47a7385255fa400641ac2?OpenDocument
archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20070222174820/www.usmc.mil/moh.nsf/000003c919889c0385255f980058f5b6/0000033ba9f47a7385255fa400641ac2?OpenDocument
archivedate=2007-02-21
title= Col David D. Porter, Medal of Honor, 1901, Sohoton Rivers (Medal of Honor citation)
work=Marines Awarded the Medal of Honor
publisher=History Division, United States Marine Corps]

ee also

*List of Medal of Honor recipients
*Littleton W. T. Waller

Notes

References

:Marine Corps
*findagrave|5799757 Retrieved on 2007-11-24
*cite web
accessdate=
url=http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/dporter.htm
title=David Dixon Porter, Major General, United States Marine Corps
publisher=Arlington National Cemetery Website
date= 2006-12-24

*cite web
accessdate=
url=http://www.usmc.mil/moh.nsf/000003c919889c0385255f980058f5b6/0000033ba9f47a7385255fa400641ac2?OpenDocument
archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20070222174820/www.usmc.mil/moh.nsf/000003c919889c0385255f980058f5b6/0000033ba9f47a7385255fa400641ac2?OpenDocument
archivedate=2007-02-21
title= Col David D. Porter, Medal of Honor, 1901, Sohoton Rivers (Medal of Honor citation)
work=Marines Awarded the Medal of Honor
publisher=History Division, United States Marine Corps

*cite web
accessdate=2007-11-24
url = http://www.tecom.usmc.mil/HD/Whos_Who/Porter_DD.htm
title = David D. Porter, Medal of Honor recipient
work = Who's who in Marine Corps history
publisher = History Division, United States Marine Corps
date =

Persondata
NAME= Porter, David Dixon
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION= United States Marine Corps Medal of Honor recipient
DATE OF BIRTH= 29 April 1877
PLACE OF BIRTH= Washington, D.C.
DATE OF DEATH= 25 February 1944
PLACE OF DEATH= Philadelphia, Pennsylvania