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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Private · U.S. Army

John Francis Deswan

Private John Francis Deswan, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on July 1, 1898 in Santiago, Cuba during the Spanish-American War.

Spanish-American War July 1, 1898

Private John Francis Deswan was a soldier in the U.S. Army who received the Medal of Honor for his actions on July 1, 1898 in Santiago, Cuba during the Spanish-American War. At the time he was serving with Company H, 21st U.S. Infantry. Deswan was 22 years old.

23 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on June 22, 1899.

Deswan was born on January 13, 1876 in Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania. Deswan died on December 1, 1956, at the age of 80. He is buried at Golden Gate National Cemetery in San Bruno, California.

Deswan is one of 110 Medal of Honor recipients from the Spanish-American War and one of 380 credited to Pennsylvania.

★ Rescue & Lifesaving

Official Medal of Honor citation

Gallantly assisted in the rescue of the wounded from in front of the lines and under heavy fire from the enemy.

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

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: Spanish–American War.

Places

  • Born: Philadelphia — map
  • Buried: Golden Gate National Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Pennsylvania →

Timeline

  1. January 13, 1876
    Born in Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania
  2. July 1, 1898
    Act of valor — Santiago, Cuba
    Age 22. Company H, 21st U.S. Infantry
  3. June 22, 1899
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. December 1, 1956
    Died
    Age 80.
  5. Resting place
    Golden Gate National Cemetery
    San Bruno, California

Biography

John Francis DeSwan (January 13, 1876 – December 1, 1956) was a private serving in the United States Army during the Spanish–American War who received the Medal of Honor for bravery.

From the Wikipedia article “John F. De Swan”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

Also honored for actions on July 1, 1898

EB Edward Lee Baker Jr. Sergeant Major · Army Spanish-American War · 1898 GB George Francis Berg Private · Army Spanish-American War · 1898 OB Oscar Brookin Private · Army Spanish-American War · 1898 UB Ulysses G. Buzzard Private · Army Spanish-American War · 1898 Charles P. Cantrell Private · Army Spanish-American War · 1898 AC Andrew Johnson Cummins Sergeant · Army Spanish-American War · 1898 TD Thomas M. Doherty Corporal · Army Spanish-American War · 1898 FF Frank Ottis Fournia Private · Army Spanish-American War · 1898 TG Thomas J. Graves Private · Army Spanish-American War · 1898 BH Benjamin Franklin Hardaway First Lieutenant · Army Spanish-American War · 1898 WK William G. Keller Private · Army Spanish-American War · 1898 TK Thomas Kelly Private · Army Spanish-American War · 1898

See all 24 recipients for July 1, 1898 →

More Spanish-American War recipients from Pennsylvania

WL William Levery Apprentice First Class · Navy Spanish-American War · 1898 PJ Peter Johnson Fireman First Class · Navy Spanish-American War · 1898 John Henry Quick Sergeant · Marine Corps Spanish-American War · 1898 Fitz Lee Private · Army Spanish-American War · 1898 HJ Hans Johnsen Chief Machinist · Navy Spanish-American War · 1898 GM George Mahoney Fireman First Class · 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.