Medal of Honor Recipients - Spanish-American war
Six Black soldiers earned the Medal of Honor during the Spanish–American War:
five Buffalo Soldiers of the 10th Cavalry Regiment and one United States Navy sailor
Born October 10, 1872, in City Point, Virginia, Robert Penn was raised in an agricultural community and worked as a field hand before enlisting in the U.S. Navy. Fireman First Class Robert Penn served aboard the USS Iowa during the bombardment of San Juan, Puerto Rico, and the blockage of Santiago de Cuba. He was the only African-American sailor aboard the USS Iowa at the time.
On July 20, 1898, Penn was serving as a Fireman First Class on the USS Iowa (BB-4) off the coast of Santiago de Cuba when a boiler accident occurred. Robert Penn repaired the boiler by balancing on wood and coal buckets above the boiling water, saving his fellow sailors, and rescuing the USS Iowa. For his actions during the incident, Penn was issued the Medal of Honor five months later, on December 14, 1898. After leaving the U.S. Navy, he moved to Las Animas, Colorado.
His citation read "Performing his duty at the risk of serious scalding at the time of the blowing out of the manhole gasket on board the vessel, Penn hauled the fire while standing on a board thrown across a coal bucket 1 foot above the boiling water which was still blowing from the boiler."
William H. Thompkins was born on October 3, 1872. Thompkins joined the army from Cleveland, Ohio, in August 1889. At the start of the Spanish-American War, the U.S. military worked directly with Cuban revolutionaries to fight Spanish forces on the island. In June of 1898, a large expedition was planned to smuggle guns, supplies and Cuban soldiers to support the revelutionaries in Cuba.
On June 30, 1898, after several attempts to land safely on Cuba's coastline, they spotted an accessible area clear of reefs and rocks near Tayabacoa, Cuba. The shore and outpost appeared to be abandoned from what they could see. A small landing party of American and Cuban troops aboard the U.S.S. Peoria were dispatched to do reconnaissance on the outpost. A Spanish force consisting of about one hundred entrenched men and some artillery, unleashed a storm of rifle and artillery fire and sunk the boat.
Over several hours, Spanish defense repulsed four rescue attempts. However, upon nightfall, Thompkins and four other soldiers led the daring search and rescue of the wounded troops for the fifth, and final time. They rowed a boat ashore under heavy enemy fire, retrieved the bodies of American and Cuban soldiers, and returned to their transport ship without taking any additional losses. On June 10, 1899, Corporal William H. Thompkins, plus the other rescuers were awarded the Medal of Honor for their gallantry.
George Wanton was born on May 15, 1868, in Paterson, New Jersey. He served in the Navy from 1884 to 1888, and joined the Army in August 1889. By June 30, 1898, was serving as a private in Troop M of the 10th Cavalry Regiment. He and 49 other Buffalo Soldiers were selected to serve in a special operations role during Battle of Tayacoba.
On that day, American forces aboard the U.S.S Florida near Trinidad, Cuba, dispatched a landing party to provide reconnaissance on Spanish outposts in the area prior to a planned deployment of Cuban resistance fighters in the area. The party was discovered by Spanish scouts and came under heavy fire. The landing party boats were sunk by enemy cannon fire, leaving them stranded on shore. A call for volunteers on the U.S.S. Florida to rescue the wounded soldiers began to make the rounds. After several unsuccessful rescue attempts, Corporal Wanton, and four others, commanded by Lieutenant George P. Ahern offered to rescue their wounded comrades.
The rescue attempt was launched at night and they successfully found and rescued the surviving members of the landing party. One year later, on June 23, 1899, Corporal Wanton and four of the rescuers were awarded the Medal of Honor for their actions in what had come to be known as the Battle of Tayacoba. Wanton left the Army at the end of the Spanish American War once his enlistment was up. He re-enlisted for a short time in 1902 and after this enlistment ended, he returned to civilian life. In retirement, Wanton represented the Buffalo Soldiers at several functions honoring Medal of Honor recipients.
Dennis Bell was a Buffalo Soldier during the Spanish–American War. Bell was born December 28, 1866 in the Washington D.C. area, and joined the Army from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in December 1892. By June 30, 1898, he was serving as a private in Troop H of the 10th Cavalry Regiment with the Buffalo Soldiers. On that day, American forces aboard the U.S.S Florida near Trinidad, Cuba, dispatched a landing party to provide reconnaissance on Spanish outposts in the area.
The party was discovered by Spanish scouts and came under heavy fire. Their boats were sunk by enemy cannon fire, leaving them stranded on shore. A call for volunteers to rescue the wounded soldiers on the U.S.S. Florida began to make the rounds. Bell and three other privates of the 10th Cavalry, under the command of Lieutenant Ahern, launched a rescue attempt at night and successfully found and rescued the surviving members of the landing party. One year later, on June 23, 1899, four of the rescuers were awarded the Medal of Honor for their actions in what had come to be known as the Battle of Tayacoba.
Bell received his Medal of Honor while still serving in Cuba on occupation duty at Manzanillo. He later received a promotion to corporal and served with the Tenth Cavalry in Texas and the Philippines. Corporal Bell remained in the U.S. Army until December 1906 and continued government service until his retirement before he returned to Washington, D.C. Bells’ story of selfless service is just one of many.
Edward Lee Baker was born on December 28, 1865, in Platte River, Wyoming, near Fort Laramie. Edward enlisted in the US Army in July of 1882, at the age of 16 and served with the 9th Cavalry Regiment. Baker’s first re-enlistment came about a year, with the 10th U.S. Cavalry before the Spanish-American War began and later became a Sergeant Major of the Buffalo Soldiers.
His actions on the 1st of July 1898, during the Battle of San Juan Hill, would later earn him the Medal of Honor. The Spanish troops were entrenched on San Juan Hill and Kettle Hill firing down on the Tenth’s position. As Baker made his rounds, he saw a soldier struggling face down in the San Juan River. Ignoring the advice of other soldiers who told him it was too dangerous to try to save the soldier, Baker, while under fire, rescued the wounded soldier from drowning.
On September 9th 1899 he was promoted to captain of the 49th U.S Volunteer Infantry. He was re-commissioned as a Second Lieutenant with the Philippine Scouts on February 7th 1902 and was promoted to 1st lieutenant on 10 September 1906. He was promoted to the rank of captain on 12 September 1908. He retired in 1909 after nearly 28 years of service. At the time of his retirement he was one of the highest ranking Black officers in the U.S Army.
Fitz Lee joined the Army from Philadelphia, PA. in December 1889. By June 30, 1898, he was serving as a private in Troop M of the 10th Cavalry Regiment with the Buffalo Soldiers. On that day, American forces aboard the U.S.S Florida near Trinidad, Cuba, dispatched a landing party to provide reconnaissance on Spanish outposts in the area. The party was discovered by Spanish scouts and came under heavy fire.
The landing party boats were sunk by enemy cannon fire, leaving them stranded on shore. The men aboard the Florida launched several rescue attempts; the first four were forced to retreat under heavy fire. The fifth attempt, by Lee and three other privates of the 10th Cavalry under the command of Lieutenant George P. Ahern, was launched at night and successfully found and rescued the surviving members of the landing party.
One year later, on June 23, 1899, Fritz Lee, along with the other rescuers were awarded the Medal of Honor for their actions in what had come to be known as the Battle of Tayacoba. Lee received his Medal of Honor while he was in the hospital at Fort Bliss, Texas. His health declined quickly after the rescue mission. Lee was medically discharged from the Army on July 5, 1899, a few days after receiving the Medal of Honor. Lee moved to Leavenworth, Kansas, after discharge to live with fellow retired Buffalo Soldiers.