Veteran in crisis? Dial 988 then press 1 · Text 838255 Next observance: Navy Birthday · October 13
Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Private · U.S. Marine Corps

James Meredith

Private James Meredith, 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, 1898

Private James Meredith, a Marine in the U.S. Marine Corps, 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. Meredith was 26 years old.

54 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on August 15, 1899. He later rose to the rank of Sergeant.

Meredith was born on April 11, 1872 in Omaha, Douglas County, Nebraska. His Medal of Honor is credited to Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts. Meredith died on January 18, 1915 in Omaha, Nebraska, at the age of 42. He is buried at St. Mary's Cemetery in Omaha, Nebraska. Records also list him as Ford Jr., Patrick F..

Meredith 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, Meredith 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: Omaha — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Massachusetts →

From the archives

Medal of Honor Recipient James Meredith enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1896. In June 1900, he provided the service with evidence that his legal name was Patrick F. Ford, Jr., and the Marine Corps changed his name accordingly. His Medal of Honor was issued while he was still using his alias, so he remains known as "James Meredith" on official Medal of Honor rosters.

Timeline

  1. April 11, 1872
    Born in Omaha, Douglas County, Nebraska
  2. May 11, 1898
    Act of valor — Cienfuegos, Cuba
    Age 26. U.S.S. Marblehead
  3. August 15, 1899
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. January 18, 1915
    Died in Omaha, Nebraska
    Age 42.
  5. Resting place
    St. Mary's Cemetery
    Omaha, Nebraska

Biography

Patrick F. Ford Jr. (born James Meredith; April 11, 1872 – January 18, 1915) 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 “James Meredith (Medal of Honor)”, 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

George Charette Gunner's Mate First Class · Navy Spanish-American War · 1898 FK Francis Kelly Watertender · Navy Spanish-American War · 1898 FM Frederick Muller Mate · Navy Spanish-American War · 1898 GN George Henry Nee Private · 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.