Silva, France, Pvt

Pvt. France Silva received the Medal of Honor with Dan Daly (and others) at the Boxer Rebellion. Silva and Daly were in the same squad aboard the Flagship USS Newark and as Legation Guards at Peking. Silva and Dan Daly were very close friends (recently developed information).  He was medically discharged on July 6, 1901, at Mare Island Naval Shipyard, Vallejo, CA. He also attended Boot Camp at Mare Island in 1898.  A model of the American Legation, which was a part of the exhibit, "The Eagle and the Dragon," has been at the archives - Marine Corps History Division since the early 1990s.  The Hisotry Division has donated this model to Marine Corps League, Detachment 1140, Red Bluff/Tehama.  A retired Air Force friend is having it shipped via USAF from Quantico to Travis AFB, CA.  When it arrives I'll go receive it and present it to the detachment.  It's demension are 5" L x 18" H x 12" deep and 80 lbs.

Pvt. Silva's CO was Captain Newt Hall aboard the Newark but when they went ashore to march on Peking, in May 1900, the CO was Captain John Twiggs "Happy Jack" Meyers. Meyers was appointed as the CO of the Marines onbaord the Newark and Oregon by Capt. Bowman (USN).  On July 1, 1900, Pvt. Silva was engaged in battle against the Chinese with Meyers, Daly and others from the Newark and USS Oregon. Others had just been either wounded or killed when Pvt Silva got up from behind cover and attempted to reconstruct a barricade (trying to keep the Chinese from advancing) that the Germans had abandoned under fire when he got shot in the left elbow, piercing it and struck his sturnum. He received the Medal of Honor via US Mail. That's how they handle it then most of the time.  His last CO at Mare Island was Colonel F. H. Harrington, USMC, who gaive him very high marks on his Conduct Record (EER). The Colonel made the remark on Silva's record that he was a "cool and reliable" Marine. Both Captain Hall and Gunnery Sergeant Peter Stewart also gave him similar marks in his record book. For over one year (and more than $500.00 later) I have researched Pvt. Silva's life, but still have only one photo of him (poor image and he's facing away). This was on the Tarter Wall at Peking. I have his complete file from the National Archives and Records Administration and other information from a variety of sources. He may have suffered from what is now known as PTSD. He lived in CA, OR, WA and ID and was married five times. He was involved with the VFW. He is considered as the first Hispanic Medal of Honor recipient.  Marine Corps League, Detachment 1140, Tehama County/Red Bluff, conducts a memorial service at his grave site each year on the Marine Corps Birthday.  The Tehama County Young Marines Color Guard is attached to this new detail in memory of Pvt. Silva.