Hugh Purvis

Infobox Military Person
name=Hugh Purvis
born= 1843
died= death year and age|1922|1843


caption=Medal of Honor recipient
nickname=
placeofbirth=Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
placeofdeath=Unknown
placeofburial= Saint Annes Cemetery Annapolis, Maryland
allegiance=flag|United States of America
branch=
serviceyears=1869-1873, 1874-1879, 1879-1884
rank=Corporal
unit=U.S.S "Alaska"
commands=
battles= Korean Expedition of 1871
awards=Medal of Honor
relations=
laterwork=

Hugh Purvis (1843 – 1922) was a United States Marine who received the Medal of Honor for actions on board the U.S.S "Alaska" during the U.S. expedition to Korea in 1871.

Biography

Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Purvis enlisted in the Marine Corps on October 27, 1869. He reported immediately to the Marine detachment on board "Alaska" soon departing for the Far East. During the punitive United States expedition to Korea (1871), he took part in the assault on an enemy fort on the Han River. In desperate hand-to-hand fighting, the sailors and Marines stormed the walls of the citadel. Private Purvis ran immediately to the flagstaff which bore the Korean colors and loosed the halyards. He was joined by Cpl. Charles Brown, and the two tore down the flag. For his "inspiring and heroic" act Private Purvis received the Medal of Honor.

He was discharged in 1873 and served two later tours with the Marine Corps, 1874 to 1879 and 1879 to 1884, rising to Corporal.

He is buried in Saint Annes Cemetery, Annapolis, Maryland. His grave can be found in the Cedar Bluff Section, Lot 154.findagrave|19876 Retrieved on 2007-11-10]

Namesake

*USS|Hugh Purvis|DD-709, a U.S. Navy Allen M. Sumner-class destroyer, was named in his honor."Hugh Purvis", "Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships", NHC.]

*Purvis Road on Marine Corps Base Quantico is named in his honor.cite web
accessdate=2007-10-28
url=http://www.quantico.usmc.mil/Sentry/storyview.aspx?SID=615&_r=search
title=Purvis Road Reflects Medal of Honor Recipient’s Fighting Spirit
author=Smith, Cpl. Susan
date=January 18, 2007
work=Quantico Sentry
publisher=Marine Corps Base Quanico, United States Marine Corps]

Medal of Honor citation

Rank and organization: Private, U.S. Marine Corps. Born: March 5, 1846, Philadelphia, Pa. Accredited to: Pennsylvania. G.O. No.: 169, February 8, 1872.

Citation:

:On board the U.S.S. Alaska during the attack on and capture of the Korean forts, 11 June 1871. Braving the enemy fire, Purvis was the first to scale the walls of the fort and capture the flag of the Korean forces."Purvis, Hugh", "Medal of Honor Recipients — Korean Campaign 1871", CMH.]

ee also

*List of Medal of Honor recipients

Notes

References

:DANFS
*findagrave|19876 Retrieved on 2007-11-10
*cite web
accessdate=2007-10-28
url=http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/h9/hugh_purvis.htm
title=Hugh Purvis
work=Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships
publisher=Naval Historical Center (NHC), Department of the Navy

*cite web
accessdate=
url=http://www.army.mil/cmh/html/moh/korean1871.html
title="Purvis, Hugh"
work=Medal of Honor Recipients — Korean Campaign 1871
publisher=U.S. Army Center of Military History (CMH)

*cite web
accessdate=
url=http://homeofheroes.com/wallofhonor/korea1871/5_conclusion.html
title=Shinmiyangyo - Korea 1871 and The Attack on the Citadel
publisher=HomeofHeroes.com

Persondata
NAME= Purvis, Hugh
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION= United States Marine Corps Medal of Honor recipient
DATE OF BIRTH=
PLACE OF BIRTH= Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
DATE OF DEATH=
PLACE OF DEATH=