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Sergeant · U.S. Marine Corps

Bruno Albert Forsterer

Sergeant Bruno Albert Forsterer, Marine Corps, received the Medal of Honor for actions on April 1, 1899 near Tagalli, Samoa during the 1899 Samoa campaign.

Sergeant Bruno Albert Forsterer was a Marine in the U.S. Marine Corps who received the Medal of Honor for his actions on April 1, 1899 near Tagalli, Samoa during the 1899 Samoa campaign. Forsterer was 29 years old.

3 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day.

Forsterer was born on July 14, 1869 in Koenigsberg, Germany — one of 130 recipients born in Germany. His Medal of Honor is credited to Massachusetts. Forsterer died on June 13, 1957, at the age of 87. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia. His medal is held by National Museum of the US Marine Corps, Quantico, VA.

Forsterer is one of 4 Medal of Honor recipients from the 1899 Samoa campaign and one of 265 credited to Massachusetts.

Official Medal of Honor citation

For distinguished conduct in the presence of the enemy at Samoa, 1 April 1899

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

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: Philippine–American War.

Life beyond the battlefield

  • Occupations: editor

Source: Wikidata.

Places

  • Born: Königsberg — map
  • Died: Oakland — map
  • Buried: Arlington National Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Massachusetts →

Timeline

  1. July 14, 1869
    Born in Koenigsberg, Germany
  2. April 1, 1899
    Act of valor — near Tagalli, Samoa
    Age 29.
  3. June 13, 1957
    Died
    Age 87.
  4. Resting place
    Arlington National Cemetery
    Arlington, Virginia

Biography

Bruno Albert Forsterer (July 14, 1869 – June 13, 1957) was a United States Marine Corps sergeant and recipient of the Medal of Honor. He received the decoration for his actions during the Samoan Civil War at Samoa on April 1, 1899, while serving with the Marine Guard aboard USS Philadelphia (C-4). Forsterer enlisted in the Marine Corps in Boston on November 3, 1896, and was honorably discharged on November 2, 1909. He was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

From the Wikipedia article “Bruno Albert Forsterer”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

Also honored for actions on April 1, 1899

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.