Oscar John Upham

Oscar John Upham, a distinguished Private in the U.S. Marine Corps, was born on 14 December 1871 in Toledo, Ohio. At the age of 17 he accompanied his family during the Oklahoma Land Run in 1889, settling in Logan County near Guthrie. Inspired by a spirit of adventure, Upham and a friend traveled to Illinois to enlist in the Marine Corps in 1896, as Oklahoma Territory lacked a recruitment office at the time. At 25 he began his military service, starting at the Marine Barracks on Mare Island, California.

Soon after, Upham was assigned to the battleship, USS Oregon (BB-3), nicknamed the “Bulldog of the Navy.” Serving as a “powder monkey” on a six-inch gun crew, he played a pivotal role during the Spanish-American War, being credited with firing the very first shot on 3 July 1898 at Santiago Harbor, Cuba.

In 1900, Upham was deployed to China amid the Boxer Rebellion—a violent uprising against foreign presence and missionaries. Assigned to a multinational relief force, Upham and his fellow Marines attempted to rescue besieged foreign legations in Peking. Trapped themselves, they withstood 55 days of relentless attacks until reinforcements arrived. Upham kept a diary during the siege, noting &ldquothe bleakness of their situation and the fading hope for rescue.”

For his exemplary courage—specifically, for erecting barricades under heavy fire—Upham was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions in Peking between 21 July and 17 August 1900. Following his honorable military service, Upham forged a distinguished career with the U.S. Postal Service. He passed away on 14 February 1949 and is interred at Summit View Cemetery in Guthrie, Oklahoma, leaving behind a legacy of bravery and service.