Frank Betron didn’t have a long military career but he went a lot of places: Service Dates: 1895 – 1902. Campaigns: Indian War – Spanish American War (Cuba) – Philippine American War (advance to San Fernando) – Boxer Rebellion – Philippine American War (Samar).
Sergeant Frank Betron was born at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 1874. He enlisted in the U.S. Army on July 26, 1895 and served in “H” Troop, 2ndSquadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment stationed at Fort Apache, Arizona. They patrolled the Mexican border preventing hostile forces reentering Mexico after raiding settlements.
In the Philippines, Betron went with Company “C” to Balangiga, Samar. A month after arriving 400 bolomen from General Lukban’s Filipino Guerrilla Army attacked the 74 men of Company “C” while they were eating their breakfast. In a few minutes, three officers and 29 men had been hacked to death except four isolated pockets of soldiers who managed to regain their weapons and fight back. Sergeant Betron led one of these groups and fought hand-to-hand with several of the attackers, regained his weapon and started to counter attack. Eight rifles were secured from Sergeant Betron’s squad barracks. After about fifteen minutes half of the enemy force had been killed or wounded. Sergeant Betron was the senior non-commissioned officer standing after all the officers and senior NCOs had been killed. The group gathered the wounded, secured the flag and disabled as many Krag rifles as they could before moving to the riverbank. Sergeant Betron then organized the survivors into five native dugout outrigger canoes and despite his wounds kept the men together in two of the largest until they reached the next nearest outpost at Basay, Samar.
In 1932 Sergeant Betron was nominated for the Medal of Honor for his actions during the massacre, he was included in a bill to the U.S.Senate. Unfortunately, the bill was not passed.
It’s a shame his headstone says “Civilian Employee” and not US Soldier.