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Chief Boatswain's Mate · U.S. Navy

James Harvey Bennett

Chief Boatswain's Mate James Harvey Bennett, Navy, received the Medal of Honor for actions on May 11, 1898 in Cienfuegos, Cuba during the Spanish-American War.

Chief Boatswain's Mate James Harvey Bennett, a sailor in the U.S. Navy, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry on May 11, 1898 in Cienfuegos, Cuba during the Spanish-American War. At the time he was serving with U.S.S. Marblehead. Bennett was 47 years old.

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

Bennett was born on April 5, 1851 in Haverstraw, Rockland County, New York. His Medal of Honor is credited to New York. Bennett died on November 22, 1900 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, at the age of 49. He is buried at Cold Spring Cemetery in Cold Spring, New York. Records also list him as Quirk, John B..

Bennett 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 cutting of the cable leading from Cienfuegos, Cuba, 11 May 1898. Facing the heavy fire of the enemy, Bennett 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: New York City — map
  • Died: Philadelphia — map
  • Buried: Cold Spring Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in New York →

Timeline

  1. April 5, 1851
    Born in Haverstraw, Rockland County, New York
  2. May 11, 1898
    Act of valor — Cienfuegos, Cuba
    Age 47. U.S.S. Marblehead
  3. November 22, 1900
    Died in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
    Age 49.
  4. Resting place
    Cold Spring Cemetery
    Cold Spring, New York

Biography

James Harvey Bennett (born August 11, 1877) was an American sailor serving in the United States Navy during the Spanish–American War who received the Medal of Honor for bravery.

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

Also honored for actions on May 11, 1898

See all 55 recipients for May 11, 1898 →

Same unit

More Spanish-American War recipients from New York

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.