Medal of Honor: Bolden Reush Harrison, Philippine Insurrection, September 24, 1911
When his comrades were ambushed by charging Moros on Basilan, Seaman Bolden R. Harrison rushed forward with a shotgun. Blasting three attackers at point-blank range, he helped rout the enemy and secure victory for his embattled party.
September 24, 2025
Name: John Hugh Catherwood
Rank: Ordinary Seaman, U.S. Navy
War: Philippine Insurrection
Date of Action: September 24, 1911
Unit: USS Pampanga (shore party)
Place: Mundang, Basilan, Philippine Islands
Born: August 7, 1888, Springfield, Illinois
Summary of Action
On the morning of September 24, 1911, a shore party from the USS Pampanga landed on Basilan Island, tasked with seizing the hostile Moro stronghold of Mundang. Ordinary Seaman John H. Catherwood moved forward with the scouts to reconnoiter a cluster of nipa huts along the trail.
Suddenly, the Americans were ambushed. From the huts and concealed positions, about twenty Moros charged at point-blank range, unleashing deadly fire. Catherwood was struck down almost instantly.
Despite his grievous wounds and unable to rise, Catherwood refused to yield. Propping himself up where he fell, he rallied to defend his officer, fighting desperately in the face of overwhelming attack. His determination helped blunt the charge and contributed directly to the destruction and rout of the enemy.
Though mortally wounded, Catherwood’s courage under fire embodied the highest traditions of naval service and secured his place among America’s honored heroes.
Official Medal of Honor Citation
While attached to the U.S.S. Pampanga, Catherwood was one of a shore party moving in to capture Mundang, on the island of Basilan, Philippine Islands, on the morning of 24 September 1911. Advancing with the scout party to reconnoiter a group of nipa huts close to the trail, Catherwood unhesitatingly entered the open area before the huts, where his party was suddenly taken under point-blank fire and charged by approximately 20 enemy Moros coming out from inside the native huts and from other concealed positions. Struck down almost instantly by the outlaws’ deadly fire, Catherwood, although unable to rise, rallied to the defense of his leader and fought desperately to beat off the hostile attack. By his valiant effort under fire and in the face of great odds, Catherwood contributed materially toward the destruction and rout of the enemy.
