Eli Thompson Fryer

Brigadier General, U.S. Marine Corps

Medal of Honor Recipient

Occupation of Veracruz

Brigadier General Eli Thompson Fryer (22 August 1878 - 6 June 1963) was a U.S. Marine Corps officer who received the U.S. military's highest award for valor, the Medal of Honor, for his heroic actions during the Occupation of Veracruz.

Eli Thompson Fryer was born in Hightstown, NJ, on 22 August 1878. He entered West Point in 1897 as a member of the class of 1901, but was honorably discharged on 19 June 1899. He was appointed Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps on 21 March 1900.

After initial training at the Marine barracks, in New York City, he served in Newport, RI (August 1901-June 1903). During that time he served a brief period of duty with the Marine battalion in Panama (13 September - 8 December 1902). In 1903 to 1905, he served with the Marine expeditionary battalion aboard the USS Panther and at Camp Roosevelt, Culebra, Puerto Rico, and commanded Marines at Dry Tortugas, FL.

Following a one-year tour of duty back at the Marine barracks in New York, he served two years in the Philippines (1906-1908). For the next five years, he served as Post Quartermaster for Marine Barracks, School of Application, Annapolis, MD, and commanding Marine Detachments aboard the USS Louisiana (BB-19), USS New Hampshire (BB-25) and USS Alabama (BB-8). Fryer was assigned to Pensacola, FL, where he deployed to Veracruz.

Medal of Honor

Rank and organization: Captain, U.S. Marine Corps

Citation: For distinguished conduct in battle, engagements of Vera Cruz, 21 and 22 April 1914. In both days' fighting at the head of his company, Captain Fryer was eminent and conspicuous in his conduct, leading his men with skill and courage.

Death and Burial

Brigadier General Eli Thompson Fryer died on 6 June 1963. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, VA, in Section 34, Lot 120-A.