not accepted back to Depauw and his father sent him to yet another school, much farther from home, along with his brother. Norwich University in Northfield, Vermont, was a military school and did not tolerate Hirams pranks and troublemaking. After the first couple months, he planned to leave but was convinced to stay by his brother Braxton. He played football and again found himself in trouble several times and on one occasion threw a potato at a waiter in the mess hall. He liked wearing the school uniform and his weapon, but he frequently dropped it in formation when he became angry at the drill sergeant. Hiram and his brother made it through the first year at Norwich and a second as well but at the age of 21 Hiram had enough of school and was looking for something more adventurous. Military career Bearss was commissioned in the United States Marine Corps on 26 May 1899 and was promoted to the rank of captain on 23 July 1900. In 1901 he was stationed in the Philippines where he earned the Medal of Honor for heroism in combat on the island of Samar where he led a successful attack on a heavily defended insurgent position. During World War I, Bearss had risen to the rank of colonel and served in France as commander of the 5th Marine Regiment, taking over from Charles A. Doyen, part of the 4th Marine Brigade. Wendell Cushing Neville took over from him in January 1918. He later commanded the 102nd Infantry (a unit of the Army's 26th Division) at Marcheville in 1918, for which he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross and the Navy Distinguished Service Medal. Bearss retired from the Marine Corps in 1919 and made his residence in his home state of Indiana. He was a delegate from Indiana to the 1936 Republican National Convention. Death Bearss died August 28, 1938, in an automobile collision in Columbia City, Indiana, while en route from Chicago to Peru, Indiana. He was buried there in Mount Hope Cemetery. Awards and honors Military decorations Bearss received 19 military decorations in his 20 years of service including several for his actions in combat. These include decorations from the United States and other countries. From the United States he received the Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross, Navy Distinguished Service Medal and the Army Distinguished Service Medal. In addition to