Article BIO by: John Joseph Kenendy, Jr.
Since the Congressional Medal of Honor, the nation's highest award for valor in combat, was established in 1862, it has been awarded over 3,400 times to members of the Armed Forces for "conspicuous gallantry in action, above and beyond the call of duty."
Official records indicate that 263 have been awarded to resident of Massachusetts, 131 of these during the Civil War alone.
Many of these 263 called Fall River and New Bedford their homes, but only one recipient, Benjamin Franklin Baker, is a Barnstable County native. Leonard Wood, who grew up in Pocasset, was awarded the Medal for his actions in the campaigns against Geronimo and the Apache Nation, but he was born in Winchester, New Hampshire, so technically is not a native Cape Codder.
Benjamin F. Baker was born in Dennisport on March 12, 1858, the son of Joseph K. Baker and his second wife, Tamar Phinney Baker. During his late teens and early 20s he was a merchant seaman, and in 1885, at age 27, he enlisted in the United States Navy.
When the USS Nashville was launched at Newport News, Virginia, on October 19, 1895, Baker was a member of the original crew, making him, in Navy parlance, a "plankowner."
The Nashville would have the distinction of firing the first shot in the Spanish-American War. In April of 1898 the Nashville intercepted the Spanish vessel Bonaventure in the waters off Key West. Salvos from the Nashville damaged the Spanish ship, causing it to heave to and surrender. Mr. Baker was given the honor of "hauling down the colors" on the captured vessel.
The Nashville then proceede to join with the USS Marblehead on blockade duty at the entrance to the harbor at Cienfuegos, Cuba. In May the War Department decided to disrupt communications between the blockaded Spanish ships and the homeland by cutting the transatlantic telegraph cables leading from the harbor.
In order to accomplish this task it would be necessary to launch small, shallow-draft boats from the Marblehead and Nashville. These boats would maneuver close enough to the shore so that the cables could be seen on the bottom, reached with grappling hooks, hauled to the surface and into boats where 150 foot sections would be cut from them. These sections would then be taken to and sunk in deeper water, thereby eliminating the possibility that they could be repaired.
The cables were as thick as a man's wrist, and it was estimated that to sut through each cable twice would take approximately 30 minutes. All the while the men in the open boats would be easy targets for rifle fire from Spanish soldiers in the harbor lighthouse, cable house, and entrenched in rifle pits along the shore.
The Marblehead and Nashville provided a covering barrage, destroying the lighthouse in the process, but the rifle fire from on shore was intense enough to inflict heavy casualties on the men in the boats. After two of the three cables had been cut, making the mission a success, the captain of the Marblehead ordered the boats to withdraw.
The 49 sailors and marines who had volunteered for the mission all received the Medal of Honor. Benjamin F. Baker was the coxswain of the boat from the Nashville.
After Spain surrendered the Nashville was deployed to the Pacific Fleet to be part of the naval force supporting the grounds troops fighting in the Philippine insurrection. Following that it transported a detachment of 30 marines to China to reinforce the garrison in Peking during the Boxer Rebellion. Obviously Baker's combat experience was significant.
He retired from the Navy in 1915. His last duty station was on the training ship USS Constellation at Newport, Rhode Island. He was recalled to active duty during World War I and was in charge of a torpedo station.
Upon his release from active duty he settled in Brockton, where he lived at 1677 Plesant Street until his death on Thursday, May 19, 1927. He was an active member of the Community, serving as a volunteer fireman until the last year of his life, when he was stricken with kidney disease. During the last few months that he was alive he lost his vision.
His survivors were his wife, his daughter Mrs. Ellis Wixon of Dennisport, a brother James, and a sister Mrs. Mary Weston, both of Harwichport.
Marine Cpl. Nicholas Xiarhos 
Service Details: Corporal: MOS 0351-Assaultman: Service Years 2006- 2009:
USMC Certificates
Plank Owner Certificate
Operation Iraqi Freedom
Operation Enduring Freedom
Cpl. Nicholas G. Xiarhos, 21, of Yarmouth Port, Mass., died July 23 of wounds suffered while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.
Nicholas George Xiarhos was the first child and first son of Yarmouth Police Deputy Chief Steven G. Xiarhos and Lisa Xiarhos of Yarmouth Port. Nicholas attended Yarmouth schools and graduated from Dennis-Yarmouth Regional High School in 2006. His family, friends, teachers, and coaches remember him as a kind-hearted, selfless person who went out of his way to help others. He was affectionately nicknamed “The Mayor of DY” due to his outgoing personality and his ability to get along with everyone. In their senior year, his classmates presented him with the title “Does Most for Others.”
Nicholas had an enduring passion about serving his country and joining the military, which was heightened by the events of September 11, 2001. Nine days after graduating from high school, he entered the United States Marine Corps Boot Camp at Parris Island in South Carolina. On September 22, 2006, he earned the title of United States Marine. Nicholas served as a 0351 Infantry Assaultman with the 1st Battalion 9th Marine Regiment in Iraq and the 2nd Battalion 8th Marine Regiment in Afghanistan supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.
Nicholas died on the battlefield in the Garmsir District of Helmand province in Southern Afghanistan on July 23, 2009 while going to the rescue of his fellow Marines in combat. Nicholas fought for the freedom of the people of Iraq and Afghanistan. He chose to make a difference in the world and was a true American Patriot. Two weeks prior to his death, his last words to his mother were, “Don’t worry Mom…I’m living the dream.”
YouTube Video Tribute to USMC Cpl. Nicholas G. Xiarhos
USMC Tribute to Fallen Cpl. Nicholas G. Xiarhos July 24, 2009
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bag9uBHAj30
Dennis - Yarmouth High School Wake for Cpl. Nicholas g. Xiarhos July 30, 2009
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynhvcH-u3zg&feature=related
USMC Vietnam Veterans Tribute to Fallen Fellow Marine Cpl. Nicholas G. Xiarhos August 2, 2009
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DIdPVn-QKmg&feature=related
Post 333 Flag Box Deication Feb 5, 2010 at Yarmouth Police Department
Yarmouth Deputy Police Chief Steven Xiarhos May 3, 2011 Bin Laden Death Reaction
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTYqwkTrOFY