John Twiggs Myers | |
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| Nickname(s) | "Handsome Jack" |
| Born | (1871-01-29)January 29, 1871 Wiesbaden,German Empire |
| Died | April 17, 1952(1952-04-17) (aged 81) Miami, Florida, U.S. |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Service | United States Marine Corps |
| Years of service | 1895–1934 |
| Rank | Lieutenant General |
| Commands | Department of the Pacific |
| Battles / wars |
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| Awards | Marine Corps Brevet Medal |
| Alma mater | United States Naval Academy |
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John Twiggs Myers (January 29, 1871 – April 17, 1952) was aUnited States Marine Corps general who was most famous for his service as the American Legation Guard inBeijing during theBoxer Rebellion.
The son of Marion Twiggs (daughter of GeneralDavid E. Twiggs) and West Point graduate and U.S. Army officer, laterConfederate Quartermaster GeneralAbraham Myers, John Twiggs Myers (known as "Jack" or jokingly, "Handsome Jack", to his friends) was born on January 29, 1871, inWiesbaden, Germany.
He graduated from theUnited States Naval Academy in 1892 and was appointed an assistant engineer two years later. In March 1895, he was commissioned a second lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps. The city ofFort Myers, Florida was originally named for Myers' father.
In 1896, he became a Hereditary Companion of theMilitary Order of Foreign Wars by right of his father's service in theMexican–American War. He was later eligible to become a Veteran Companion in the order by right of his own service in theSpanish–American War, thePhilippine–American War, theBoxer Rebellion, andWorld War I.
After studying at theNaval War College inNewport, Rhode Island, Myers was sent on active duty at the outbreak of the Spanish–American War. He led a detachment which participated in thecapture of Guam from its Spanish garrison, and sailed with theUSSCharleston to the Philippines, then being attached to theUSSBaltimore.
During the Philippine–American War, he led several amphibious landings against Filipino rebels in 1899, gaining recognition for his heroic conduct. He was promoted to Captain sometime in 1899.
In May 1900, Myers was sent to China aboard the cruiserUSSNewark and put ashore with a detachment of 48 Marines (including then PrivateDaniel Daly) and 3 sailors to guard the US Legation in Beijing, just as theBoxer Rebellion broke out. Myers' Marines occupied a wall defending the Legations, arguably the most vulnerable part of the defensive position, and led an attack (along with Russian and British troops) as part of a ferocious battle on July 3 which dislodged the main Boxer position near the wall. Myers was wounded in the leg by a spear; his attack was claimed by the British Consul, SirClaude Maxwell MacDonald, as "one of the most successful operations of the siege, as it rendered our position on the wall, which had been precarious, comparatively strong." As a result of his bravery in this action, he wasbrevetted Major and advanced four numbers in rank. In 1921, Myers would also become one of only 20 living Marines to be awarded the USMCBrevet Medal when that decoration was created. Upon recovering from his wounds, he served as the provost marshal onAmerican Samoa and was then transferred to the Marine barracks atBremerton, Washington.[1]
Myers led the detachment of Marines which accompanied the USSBrooklyn toTangier, Morocco, during thePerdicaris affair in 1904. After the incident was concluded, Myers held various other posts, both barracks commands and naval commands, including a time period commanding the Marine attachment of theAsiatic Fleet. He took part in expeditions toSanto Domingo (1912) andCuba (1913), and during World War I served as the counter-intelligence officer of theAtlantic Fleet.
Myers was made inspector general of theDepartment of the Pacific in 1921, serving in that post for three years, and from 1925 to 1928 commanded the1st Marine Brigade, stationed in Haiti. He served various other posts, including, briefly, commander of the Department of the Pacific, before retiring a Major General in 1934; after his retirement, in 1942, he was given the rank of Lieutenant General. He relocated to Miami, Florida, after his retirement and died inCoconut Grove on April 17, 1952.
While not actually portrayed on film, Myers has inspired characters in several films. In the historical epic55 Days at Peking,Charlton Heston portrayed Marine Major Matt Lewis, commanding the American Legation Guard in Beijing during the Boxer Rebellion. InThe Wind and the Lion, the fictional Captain Jerome (played bySteve Kanaly) took on Myers' historical role, commanding the Marines dispatched to Tangier during the Perdicaris affair.
General Myers' medals and decorations included:
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This article incorporatespublic domain material from websites or documents of theUnited States Marine Corps.| International | |
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