Background
Stanley was born Brooklyn, New York May 2, 1881 and enlisted in the Navy aboard the receiving ship United States Ship Vermont, moored at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, on March 28, 1898.
Stanley was born Brooklyn, New York May 2, 1881 and enlisted in the Navy aboard the receiving ship United States Ship Vermont, moored at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, on March 28, 1898.
Aged sixteen, he served as a landsman and participated in the Spanish–American War, which was declared only a month after his enlistment, and the Philippine–American War which began in 1899. By June 13, 1900, he was serving as a Hospital Apprentice on the United States Ship Newark in China. The Newark had been sent to relieve Allied forces fighting in the Boxer Rebellion.
On June 13 and again from June 20 to June 22, in Beijing (then known to Americans as "Peking"), he volunteered to carry messages between the American and British legations despite heavy fire.
The medal was presented to him aboard the armored cruiser United States Ship Brooklyn. His official citation reads: "Foreign distinguished conduct in the presence of the enemy in volunteering and carrying messages under fire at Peking, China, 12 July 1900."
This organization contrasted with the Military Order of the Dragon whose membership consisted solely of commissioned officers.
He later re-enlisted in 1917 to serve in World War I. During the war, he served on the United States Ship America (Idaho-3006), a German passenger liner seized by the United States and converted to a troop transport. Stanley was promoted to the warrant officer rank of Pharmacist on August 5, 1920.
He was promoted to Chief Pharmacist on September 24, 1923.
He retired from the Navy on February 1, 1939. Three years later, he died in Pensacola, Florida, at age 61 and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery. His grave can be found in section 7, lot 8348.
He was also the first member of the United States. Navy medical community to receive the award. Stanley became a member of the Imperial Order of the Dragon, a fraternal society for veterans of the Boxer Rebellion of all ranks.