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Ordinary Seaman · U.S. Navy

Anton Olsen

Ordinary Seaman Anton Olsen, Navy, received the Medal of Honor for actions on May 11, 1898 in Cienfuegos, Cuba during the Spanish-American War.

Spanish-American War May 11, 1898Born in Norway

Ordinary Seaman Anton Olsen, a sailor in the U.S. Navy, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry on May 11, 1898 in Cienfuegos, Cuba during the Spanish-American War. At the time he was serving with U.S.S. Marblehead. Olsen was 24 years old.

54 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. He later rose to the rank of Quartermaster Third Class.

Olsen was born on July 13, 1873 in Christiana (now Oslo), Norway — one of 22 recipients born in Norway. His Medal of Honor is credited to Massachusetts. Olsen died on June 23, 1924 in Brooklyn, New York, at the age of 50. He is buried at Cypress Hills National Cemetery in Brooklyn, New York.

Olsen is one of 110 Medal of Honor recipients from the Spanish-American War and one of 265 credited to Massachusetts.

Official Medal of Honor citation

On board the U.S.S. Marblehead during the operation of cutting the cable leading from Cienfuegos, Cuba, 11 May 1898. Facing the heavy fire of the enemy, Olsen displayed extraordinary bravery and coolness throughout this period.

Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: Spanish–American War.

Places

  • Born: Norway — map
  • Died: Metropolitan Hospital Center — map
  • Buried: Cypress Hills National Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Massachusetts →

Timeline

  1. July 13, 1873
    Born in Christiana (now Oslo), Norway
  2. May 11, 1898
    Act of valor — Cienfuegos, Cuba
    Age 24. U.S.S. Marblehead
  3. June 23, 1924
    Died in Brooklyn, New York
    Age 50.
  4. Resting place
    Cypress Hills National Cemetery
    Brooklyn, New York

Biography

Ordinary Seaman Anton Olsen (July 10, 1873 – June 23, 1924) was a Norwegian-born United States Navy quartermaster who received the Medal of Honor.

From the Wikipedia article “Anton Olsen (Medal of Honor)”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

Also honored for actions on May 11, 1898

Benjamin F. Baker Coxswain · Navy Spanish-American War · 1898 DB David Duffy Barrow Seaman · Navy Spanish-American War · 1898 JB James Harvey Bennett Chief Boatswain's Mate · Navy Spanish-American War · 1898 AB Albert Beyer Coxswain · Navy Spanish-American War · 1898 RB Robert Blume Seaman · Navy Spanish-American War · 1898 GB George F. Brady Chief Gunner's Mate · Navy Spanish-American War · 1898 GB George Washington Bright Coal Passer · Navy Spanish-American War · 1898 DC Daniel J. Campbell Private · Marine Corps Spanish-American War · 1898 JC Joseph Edward Carter Blacksmith · Navy Spanish-American War · 1898 LC Leonard B. Chadwick Apprentice First Class · Navy Spanish-American War · 1898 TC Thomas C. Cooney Chief Machinist · Navy Spanish-American War · 1898 John Davis Gunner's Mate Third Class · Navy Spanish-American War · 1898

See all 55 recipients for May 11, 1898 →

Same unit

WF William Farley Boatswain's Mate · Navy Civil War · 1863 WM William Henry Morin Boatswain's Mate Second Class · Navy Spanish-American War · 1898 WS William Spicer Gunner's Mate First Class · Navy Spanish-American War · 1898 AS Axel Leohard Sundquist Chief Carpenter's Mate · Navy Spanish-American War · 1898 ST Samuel S. Triplett Ordinary Seaman · Navy Spanish-American War · 1898

More Spanish-American War recipients from Massachusetts

GN George Henry Nee Private · Army Spanish-American War · 1898 FM Frederick Muller Mate · Navy Spanish-American War · 1898 George Charette Gunner's Mate First Class · Navy Spanish-American War · 1898 FK Francis Kelly Watertender · Navy Spanish-American War · 1898
Sources. Service and award details compiled from the recipient record of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, Wikidata and Wikipedia. The narrative summary is generated from these records. Spotted an error? Send a correction.