MOH Recipient Maj General Andre W. Brewster Belgium Order of Leopold Italy Crown

Description

WOW.  An incredible piece of history.  We have the Belgium Order of Leopold (Commander), the third level of their highest award, and the Italian Order of the Crown with the badge, one of Italy's highest honors especially at the time of award, for one of America's greatest heroes of his generation, US Medal of Honor recipient Major General Andre Walker Brewster.  General Brewster received his MOH for actions in the Boxer Rebellion, and I am assuming that the LOH and IOC were awarded from his command in WW1.  What is of further interest is that you can see the location where his MOH was placed---right in the center.
Major museum quality items here.  A piece of history.  Provenance is on the box and you can see it.
About General Brewster:
Andre Walker Brewster (December 9, 1862 – March 27, 1942) was a career officer in the United States Army He attained the rank of major general and served in several high-profile assignments, including Inspector General of the United States Army and Inspector General of the American Expeditionary Forces during World War I. In addition to his World War I service, Brewster was a veteran of the American Indian Wars, Spanish-American War, Philippine Insurrection, Boxer Rebellion. He received the Medal of Honor for his role in the Boxer Rebellion's Battle of Tientsin.
Early life
Andre Walker Brewster was born on December 9, 1862, in Hoboken, New Jersey. His mother was Mary Bache Walker (1839-1876), great-great-great granddaughter of Benjamin Franklin, daughter of Robert J. Walker, and sister of Duncan Stephen Walker. His father was Adrien Deslondes (also spelled Deslonde or Deslandes, etc.), a midshipman in the United States Navy whose family owned sugar plantations in Louisiana.
Adrien Deslondes and Mary Walker divorced in the mid 1860s. In 1870, Mary Walker married Benjamin H. Brewster, who adopted Andre Walker Deslondes and his siblings. Andre Brewster was raised and educated in Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. He was trained as an attorney and practiced for three years before joining the Army.
Start of career
In January 1885, Brewster received a direct commission as a second lieutenant in the 10th Infantry Regiment, a post which had also been sought by David L. Brainard. He served on frontier duty, including campaigns against the Apache and Sioux during the American Indian Wars.
During the Spanish–American War, Brewster commanded Company B, 9th Infantry. He took part in the Siege of Santiago and the Battle of San Juan Hill. He was recommended for brevet promotion to captain for his conduct at San Juan Hill. Following his service in Cuba, Brewster continued to command Company B during action in the Philippines during the Philippine Insurrection.
Medal of Honor action
For his actions during the Boxer Rebellion on July 13, 1900, in Tientsin, China, Brewster was awarded the Medal of Honor.
Medal of Honor citation
Rank and organization: Captain, 9th U.S. Infantry. Place and date: At Tientsin, China, July 13, 1900. Entered service at: Philadelphia, Pa. Birth: Hoboken, N.J. Date of issue: September 15, 1903.
The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Captain (Infantry) Andre Walker Brewster, United States Army, for gallantry in action on 13 July 1900, while serving with the 9th Infantry at Tientsin, China. While under fire Captain Brewster rescued two of his men from drowning.
Continued career
Brewster remained in China for five years as the U.S. military attache. He then attended the Army War College, from which he graduated in 1907. In early 1909, he was appointed acting inspector general of the Army. The appointment was confirmed in December, and he held the post until 1913.
In 1914, Brewster was assigned to Puerto Rico as commander of the 65th Infantry Regiment. He then returned to the inspector general's post, where he remained until 1917.
World War I
During World War I, from June 1917 to September 1919, he served in France as Inspector General of General Headquarters, American Expeditionary Force (AEF). AEF commander John J. Pershing valued Brewster's judgment, especially with respect to evaluating the performance of brigade and division commanders. When Brewster assessed the combat performance of Robert Houston Noble, commander of the 158th Infantry Brigade, as ineffective, Pershing relieved Noble. Brewster's negative assessment of Omar Bundy's performance as commander of the 2nd Division was a key factor in his removal from command and transfer to command of the skeletal U.S. VI Corps. His positive appraisal of Robert Lee Bullard's performance was a major factor in Pershing's decision to recommend Bullard for promotion to lieutenant general and assignment as commander of Second United States Army. Pershing had a less than favorable view of Clarence Ransom Edwards, commander of the 26th Division, and Brewster's lengthy assessment of Edwards as a subpar performer played a role in Pershing's decision to relieve Edwards.
Later career
From 1921 to 1922, Brewster commanded the Second Coast Artillery District, headquartered at Fort Totten, New York. Brewster's final command was the First Corps Area in Boston, Massachusetts, where he succeeded Clarence Edwards. He retired in 1925 with the rank of major general.
Death and burial
Brewster died in Boston on March 27, 1942. He was buried at Arlington National Cemetery, section 2, lot 1130.
Family
In 1885, Brewster married Elizabeth Griffin (1862-1948). They were the parents of a daughter, Mary Walker Brewster (1887-1979), the wife of James Donald Cassels.
Namesakes
In World War II, the United States Navy transport ship General A. W. Brewster was named in Brewster's honor. The ship was also active in the Korean War, earning five battle stars for her service in that conflict.
Honors and awards
Brewster's awards included:*
Medal of Honor
Army Distinguished Service Medal
Indian Campaign Medal
Spanish Campaign Medal
Army of Cuban Occupation Medal
China Campaign Medal
Philippine Campaign Medal
Mexican Border Service Medal
World War I Victory Medal
Legion of Honour (Commandeur) (France)
Order of Leopold (Commandeur) (Belgium)
Order of St Michael and St George (Knight Commander) (United Kingdom)
Military Order of the Dragon
Distinguished Service Medal citation
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Medal to Major General Andre Walker Brewster, United States Army, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished services to the Government of the United States, in a duty of great responsibility during World War I. General Brewster organized and administered with marked ability the Inspector General's Department of the American Expeditionary Forces, and his soldierly characteristics and unceasing labors influenced greatly the attainment of efficiency in the American Army in France.
War Department, General Orders No. 12 (1919)
Dates of rank
2nd Lieutenant - 19 January 1885
1st Lieutenant - 17 December 1891
Captain, Assistant Quartermaster, Volunteers - 15 October 1898
Captain - 2 March 1899
Discharged from Volunteers - 12 May 1899
Major - 15 March 1908
Lieutenant Colonel - 2 December 1913
Colonel - 1 July 1916
Brigadier General, National Army - 5 August 1917
Major General, National Army - 28 November 1917
Brigadier General, Regular Army - 8 January 1920
Discharged from National Army - 28 February 1920
Major General, Regular Army - 1 December 1922
Major General, Retired List - 9 December 1925
*It's interesting to note that in his wiki entry the Italian medal is not mentioned, so we are literally seeing history being amended right here.
The box measures about 16 x 12 x 2 inches.
Shipped Express only.  I might hand deliver it.  We can use an escrow service if necessary.
H23