Serving as a soldier in the U.S. Army, Private Gotfred Jensen received the Medal of Honor for his actions on May 13, 1899 in San Miguel de Mayumo, Luzon during the Philippine Insurrection. At the time he was serving with Company D, 1st North Dakota Volunteer Infantry. Jensen was 26 years old.
7 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on June 6, 1906, 7 years after the action.
Jensen was born on November 20, 1872 in Ryde, Denmark — one of 11 recipients born in Denmark. His Medal of Honor is credited to Devils Lake, Ramsey County, North Dakota. Jensen died on December 26, 1945 in Soap Lake, Washington, at the age of 73. He is buried at Washington Soldier's Home Cemetery in Retsil, Washington. His medal is held by North Dakota State Historical Society, Bismarck, ND.
Jensen is one of 82 Medal of Honor recipients from the Philippine Insurrection and one of 19 credited to North Dakota.
Official Medal of Honor citation
With 11 other scouts, without waiting for the supporting battalion to aid them or to get into a position to do so, charged over a distance of about 150 yards and completely routed about 300 of the enemy, who were in line and in a position that could only be carried by a frontal attack.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Battles and campaigns
Also served in: Philippine–American War.
Life beyond the battlefield
- Occupations: politician
Source: Wikidata.
Places
- Born: Denmark — map
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in North Dakota →
Timeline
- November 20, 1872Born in Ryde, Denmark
- May 13, 1899Act of valor — San Miguel de Mayumo, LuzonAge 26. Company D, 1st North Dakota Volunteer Infantry
- June 6, 1906Medal of Honor presented
- December 26, 1945Died in Soap Lake, WashingtonAge 73.
- Resting placeWashington Soldier's Home CemeteryRetsil, Washington
Biography
Gotfred Jensen (November 20, 1872 in Denmark – December 26, 1945) was a United States Army soldier who received the Medal of Honor for actions during the Philippine–American War. He was a member of Young's Scouts and was one of thirteen Scouts awarded the Medal between 16 and May 19, 1899. Sergeant Jensen is buried in Veteran's Home Cemetery in Port Orchard, Washington.
From the Wikipedia article “Gotfred Jensen”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
