The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Ordinary Seaman Samuel McAllister, United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism in action against the enemy at Tientsin, China, 20 June 1900, while serving with the detachment from the U.S.S. Newark. Crossing the river in a small boat while under heavy enemy fire, Ordinary Seaman McAllister assisted in destroying buildings occupied by the enemy.