Harry W Orndof

On episode three hundred and forty-nine, the story of Harry W Orndof is told. All stories in September and October will be recipients from the Boxer Rebellion Be sure to visit our website for more information as the show goes on at: www.talesofhonorpodcast.com. Thanks for listening and be sure to share with friends and family!

Harry was born on the 8th of November, 1875, in Sandusky, Ohio, and a month before his twenty-first birthday, on the 17th of October, 1896, he enlisted in the US Marine Corps. Harry was soon deployed to China in support of the Boxer Rebellion and it was his actions as a Private that would earn him the Medal of Honor. The citation reads:

In action with the relief expedition of the Allied forces in China, 13, 20, 21, and 22 June 1900. During this period and in the presence of the enemy, Orndoff distinguished himself by meritorious conduct.

Harry received his Medal of Honor on the 10th of December, 1901, and he was medically discharged from the Marines the following month. He was married to Louise and they had no children. The one inconsistency I found with Harry was the spelling of his last name. His headstone actually has it spelled Orndorf, while several sources have it spelled with two Fs, making it three different spellings for the same man. Harry Westley Orndof died on the 14th of July, 1938 at the age of 62 and he is buried in the Highland Park Cemetery in Highland Hills, Ohio: Veterans Section 3, Tier 5, Grave 22.