Namesake:
Joel Thompson Boone
Joel Thompson Boone was born at St. Clair, Pennsylvania, August 29,
1889, he earned the Medal of Honor in World War I while serving as a
Lieutenant in the Medical Corps, with the Marines at the vicinity of
Vierzy, France, July 19, 1918.
He graduated from Mercersburg (Pennsylvania) Academy,
1909; received an M.D. degree at Hahnemann Medical College,
Philadelphia, 1913, with graduate study at the U.S. Navy Medical
School, Washington, D.C., 1915. He married Helen Elizabeth Koch, June
20, 1914. He served as a Naval Medical Officer, 1914-50 and served on
combat duty in Haiti, 1915-16, and France and Germany during World War
I.
He was the physician to Presidents Harding, Coolidge and
Hoover, 1922-33; staff commander, Base Force, U.S. Fleet,
January-August 1940; Senior Medical Officer, Naval Air Station, San
Diego, 1940-43; Commander, Naval Hospital, Seattle, Washington,
1943-45; Fleet Medical Officer, 3rd U.S. Fleet, 1945; District Medical
Officer, 11th Naval District, 1946; Inspector of Medical Activities,
Pacific Coast, also Inspector of Medical Activities, 1946; Executive
Secretary, Commission in Medical and Hospital Services, Armed Forces,
Chief, Joint Plans and Action, Medical Services, Office of the
Secretary of Defense, 1948-50; Inspector General, Medical Department,
1950.
He retired from active duty as a Vice Admiral in 1950 and then served
as Medical Director, Veterans Administration, 1951-55.
His decorations included the Medal of Honor; Distinguished
Service Cross; Silver Star with two oak leaf clusters; the Purple Heart
with two oak leaf clusters; Bronze Star Medal with Combat V; Secretary
of the Navy Commendation Medal; Defense Medal with Star; Haitian
Campaign Medal; World War I Victory Medal with six battle clasps;
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, World War II; Croix de Guerre with two
Palms, Officer of the Legion of Honor, Order of Fourragere (France);
War Cross (Italy).
He resided in Washington, D.C., where he died on April 2, 1974.
He
was buried in Section 11 of Arlington National Cemetery. His wife,
Helen Elizabeth Koch Boone (July 17, 1889-November 2, 1977), is buried
with him.
Interesting notes: He was with President Warren G.
Harding in San Francisco on August 2, 1923 when the President died of a
massive stroke. He also attended to Calvin Coolidge, Jr., the son of
the President, who died at Walter Reed Army Hospital on 7 July 1924. He
was one of the physicians who operated on Secretary of Agriculture
Henry C. Wallace for appendicitis and the removal of his gall bladder,
and who subsequently died on October 25, 1924 at the United States
Naval Hospital at Washington, D.C. In 1930, he treated Herbert Hoover,
Jr., son of the President for Tuberculosis (he survived).
BOONE, JOEL THOMPSON Rank and organization: Lieutenant
(Medical Corps), U.S. Navy. Place and date: Vicinity Vierzy, France, 19
July 1918. Entered service at: St. Clair, Pennsylvania. Born: 2 August
1889, St. Clair, Pennsylvania. Medal of Honor Citation: For
extraordinary heroism, conspicuous gallantry, and intrepidity while
serving with the 6th Regiment, U.S. Marines, in actual conflict with
the enemy. With absolute disregard for personal safety, ever conscious
and mindful of the suffering fallen, Surgeon Boone, leaving the shelter
of a ravine, went forward onto the open field where there was no
protection and despite the extreme enemy fire of all calibers, through
a heavy mist of gas, applied dressings and first aid to wounded
marines. This occurred southeast of Vierzy, near the cemetery, and on
the road south from that town. When the dressings and supplies had been
exhausted, he went through a heavy barrage of large-caliber shells,
both high explosive and gas, to replenish these supplies, returning
quickly with a sidecar load, and administered them in saving the lives
of the wounded. A second trip, under the same conditions and for the
same purpose, was made by Surgeon Boone later that day.
BOONE, JOEL THOMPSON Lieutenant (Medical Corps), U.S.
Navy 6th Regiment (Marines)(Attached), 2d Division, A.E.F. Date of
Action: June 9 - 10 & 25, 1918 Citation: The Distinguished
Service
Cross is presented to Joel Thompson Boone, Lieutenant (Medical Corps),
U.S. Navy, for extraordinary heroism in action in the Bois-de-Belleau,
France, June 9-10 and 25, 1918. On two successive days the regimental
aid station in which he was working was struck by heavy shells and in
each case demolished. Ten men were killed and a number of wounded were
badly hurt by falling timbers and stone. Under these harassing
conditions this officer continued without cessation his treatment of
the wounded, superintending their evacuation, and setting an inspiring
example of heroism to the officers and men serving under him. On June
25, 1918, Surgeon Boone followed the attack by one battalion against
enemy machine-gun positions in the Bois-de-Belleau, establishing
advanced dressing stations under continuous shell fire.
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The Shield:
At the chief, or upper portion of
the shield, are the colors of the Distinguished Service Cross Ribbon,
signifying the award of this medal to Vice Admiral Joel T. Boone while
serving with the Second Army Division in France. The reversed gold star
alludes to Admiral Boone's Medal of Honor, our country's highest award.
The red cross, a symbol of medical service, bears a fleur-de-lis,
referring to Admiral Boone's illustrious service in France. Oak, a
symbol of strength, is formed into a wreath denoting honor and
excellence. Medical officers of the Navy wear oak leaves. The six white
stars represent Admiral Boone's Silver Star Medal with five Oak Leaf
Clusters.
