Middleton Stuart Elliott
Vice Admiral, U.S. Navy
Medal of Honor Recipient
Occupation of Veracruz

Middleton Stuart Elliott was born in Beaufort, SC, on 16 October 1872, the son of Middleton Stuart and Anne Stuart Rhett Elliott.

Middleton Stuart Elliott was appointed from the State of South Carolina to the U.S. Navy as a Passed Assistant Surgeon with the rank of Ensign. After brief service at the Naval Laboratory in New York, Elliott reported to USS Porter then transferred to USS Texas, where he participated in the Spanish–American War. In October 1899, Elliott was promoted to Lieutenant (junior grade) and ordered to Port Royal Naval Station, SC. After completion of that duty, he served on USS Annapolis (PG-10), USS Kentucky (BB-6) and USS New York (ACR-2). During his time at sea, Elliott was promoted to Lieutenant. In March 1903, Elliott was promoted to Surgeon with the corresponding rank of Lieutenant Commander and, in November, he reported to Naval Hospital Norfolk, VA, and served there for 2 years. He later served, in succession, on board the monitor USS Florida (BM-9), USS St. Louis (C-20) and USS Maine (BB-10). In November 1908, he was assigned to the Naval Hospital in Washington DC.

In 1911, LCDR Elliott was ordered to USS Utah (BB-31) and the transferred to USS Florida (BB-30). While on Florida, he participated as a Surgeon in the intervention at Vera Cruz, Mexico. On 21 April 1914, he quickly established a base hospital and supervised the removal of the wounded and field station operations until the city's capture the next day. For his distinguished conduct in battle LCDR Elliott was awarded the Medal of Honor. That summer, he reported for shore duty at the Navy Recruiting Station in New York City. In August 1916, while on recruiting duty he was promoted to Medical Inspector with the rank of Commander. During World War I, CDR Elliott commanded the Naval Hospital and Supply Depot at Cañacao Bay, Philippines. In January 1918,he was promoted to Medical Director with the rank of Captain. Upon returning to Washington, DC, in December 1919, CAPT Elliott assumed command of the Naval Hospital.

In April 1923, CAPT Elliott served at the Mare Island Navy Yard in Vallejo, CA, followed by a tour at the Puget Sound Navy Yard, Bremerton, WA. Elliott was promoted to Rear Admiral in June 1927 and, two years later, RADM Elliott became the District Medical Officer for the Eleventh Naval District based in San Diego, CA. Returning to Washington, DC, three years later, he served on the Naval Retirement Board observing Medical and Naval Exams. Remaining in the area during the last quarter of 1933, he became an inspector at the Medical Department Activities section within the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery. In January 1935, RADM Elliott became the president of the Naval Retirement Board. In December, he was appointed as the Inspector of Medical Department Activities for the Eleventh, Twelve, Thirteenth, and Fourteenth Naval Districts. In November 1936, he retired at the rank of Rear Admiral and was placed on the retired list.

During World War II, in February 1942 he was briefly recalled to active duty, promoted to Vice Admiral, and then placed back on the retired list with his new, higher rank.

Medal of Honor Citation

Citation: For distinguished conduct in battle, engagements of Vera Cruz, 21 and 22 April 1914. Surgeon Elliott was eminent and conspicuous in the efficient establishment and operation of the base hospital, and in his cool judgment and courage in supervising first aid stations on the firing line and removing the wounded.

Honors

In 2004, the elementary school at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, SC, was named in his honor.

Death and Burial

Vice Admiral Middleton Stuart Elliott died on 29 October 1952 in Los Angeles, CA. He is buried at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego, CA, in Section P, Grave 2628.

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/9728/middleton-stuart-elliott