You Will Shoot Your Eye Out

Let me entreat you with the story of the flag-bearer in the painting. Private Calvin P. Titus

He was with the 14th Infantry Regiment that was called in for the relief of the siege in Peking.

As the troops were trying to relieve the siege, the commander of his company asked for volunteers to climb the 25-30ft wall.

He volunteered first, saying “I’ll try sir.”

He scaled the wall under fire, using jagged edges and pieces blasted out and made it to the top. Then the rest of his company followed unarmed and used a makeshift rope of rifle slings to bring up all the guns and ammo.

He would be awarded the Medal of Honor and a spot at West Point, which he graduated from in 1905. His award was given to him by President Roosevelt to celebrate the 100th anniversary of West Point.

To top it all off?

He lived long enough to see 55 Days at Peking. He died in 1966.