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Gunner's Mate First Class · U.S. Navy

Freeman Gill

Gunner's Mate First Class Freeman Gill, 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, 1898

Gunner's Mate First Class Freeman Gill was a sailor in the U.S. Navy who received the Medal of Honor for his actions on May 11, 1898 in Cienfuegos, Cuba during the Spanish-American War. At the time he was serving with U.S.S. Marblehead. Gill was 46 years old.

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

Gill was born on September 5, 1851 in Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts. His Medal of Honor is credited to Massachusetts. Gill died on April 8, 1905 in Chelsea, Massachusetts, at the age of 53. He is buried at Woodlawn Cemetery in Everett, Massachusetts.

Gill 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, Gill set an example of extraordinary bravery and coolness throughout this action.

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

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: Spanish–American War.

Places

  • Born: Boston — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Massachusetts →

Timeline

  1. September 5, 1851
    Born in Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts
  2. May 11, 1898
    Act of valor — Cienfuegos, Cuba
    Age 46. U.S.S. Marblehead
  3. April 8, 1905
    Died in Chelsea, Massachusetts
    Age 53.
  4. Resting place
    Woodlawn Cemetery
    Everett, Massachusetts

Biography

Freeman Gill (September 5, 1851 – April 8, 1905) was a Gunner's Mate first class serving in the United States Navy during the Spanish–American War who received the Medal of Honor for bravery.

From the Wikipedia article “Freeman Gill”, 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 George Charette Gunner's Mate First Class · Navy Spanish-American War · 1898 FM Frederick Muller Mate · 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.