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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Private · U.S. Army

George Henry Wanton

Private George Henry Wanton, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on June 30, 1898 in Tayabacoa, Cuba during the Spanish-American War.

Spanish-American War June 30, 1898

Private George Henry Wanton, a soldier in the U.S. Army, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry on June 30, 1898 in Tayabacoa, Cuba during the Spanish-American War. At the time he was serving with Troop M, 10th U.S. Cavalry. Wanton was 30 years old.

4 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on June 23, 1899. He later rose to the rank of Master Sergeant.

Wanton was born on May 15, 1868 in Paterson, Passaic County, New Jersey. Wanton died on November 27, 1940 in Washington, District of Columbia, at the age of 72. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.

Wanton is one of 110 Medal of Honor recipients from the Spanish-American War and one of 93 credited to New Jersey.

★ Rescue & Lifesaving

Official Medal of Honor citation

Voluntarily went ashore in the face of the enemy and aided in the rescue of his wounded comrades; this after several previous attempts at rescue had been frustrated.

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

Battles and campaigns

1898 · Spanish-American War

Battle of Tayacoba

Result: Spanish victory

3 Medal of Honor recipients

Also served in: Spanish–American War.

Places

  • Born: Paterson — map
  • Buried: Arlington National Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in New Jersey →

Timeline

  1. May 15, 1868
    Born in Paterson, Passaic County, New Jersey
  2. June 30, 1898
    Act of valor — Tayabacoa, Cuba
    Age 30. Troop M, 10th U.S. Cavalry
  3. June 23, 1899
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. November 27, 1940
    Died in Washington, District of Columbia
    Age 72.
  5. Resting place
    Arlington National Cemetery
    Arlington, Virginia

Biography

George Henry Wanton (May 15, 1868 – November 27, 1940) was a Buffalo Soldier in the United States Army and a recipient of America's highest military decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in the Spanish–American War. Wanton and three of his fellow Buffalo Soldiers were the last black servicemen to be presented the Medal of Honor for more than half a century.

From the Wikipedia article “George H. Wanton”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

Further reading

Also honored for actions on June 30, 1898

Dennis Bell Private · Army Spanish-American War · 1898 Fitz Lee Private · Army Spanish-American War · 1898 FM Frederick Muller Mate · Navy Spanish-American War · 1898 WT William H. Thompkins Private · Army Spanish-American War · 1898

More Spanish-American War recipients from New Jersey

HV Hudson van Etten Seaman · Navy Spanish-American War · 1898 RB Robert Blume Seaman · Navy Spanish-American War · 1898 GM George Frederick Mager Apprentice First Class · Navy Spanish-American War · 1898 TC Thomas C. Cooney Chief Machinist · 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.