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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Private · U.S. Marine Corps

Hermann Wilhelm Kuchneister

Private Hermann Wilhelm Kuchneister, Marine Corps, 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 Germany

Serving as a Marine in the U.S. Marine Corps, Private Hermann Wilhelm Kuchneister 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. Kuchneister was 20 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 Corporal.

Kuchneister was born on October 16, 1877 in Hamburg, Germany — one of 130 recipients born in Germany. His Medal of Honor is credited to New York. Kuchneister died on February 1, 1923 in Winthrop, Massachusetts, at the age of 45. He is buried at Winthrop Cemetery in Winthrop, Massachusetts. Records also list him as Kuchmeister, Hermann W..

Kuchneister is one of 110 Medal of Honor recipients from the Spanish-American War and one of 678 credited to New York.

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, Kuchneister displayed 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: Hamburg — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in New York →

Timeline

  1. October 16, 1877
    Born in Hamburg, Germany
  2. May 11, 1898
    Act of valor — Cienfuegos, Cuba
    Age 20. U.S.S. Marblehead
  3. February 1, 1923
    Died in Winthrop, Massachusetts
    Age 45.
  4. Resting place
    Winthrop Cemetery
    Winthrop, Massachusetts

Biography

Hermann William Kuchmeister (October 16, 1877 – February 1, 1923) was a private serving in the United States Marine Corps during the Spanish–American War who received the Medal of Honor for bravery.

From the Wikipedia article “Hermann Wilhelm Kuchneister”, 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 New York

TK Thomas Kelly Private · Army Spanish-American War · 1898 WK William G. Keller Private · Army Spanish-American War · 1898 Richmond Pearson Hobson Lieutenant · Navy Spanish-American War · 1898 FF Frank Ottis Fournia Private · Army Spanish-American War · 1898 Albert Leopold Mills Captain & Assistant Adjutant General · Army Spanish-American War · 1898 HP Herman Pfisterer Musician · Army 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.