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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Fireman Second Class · U.S. Navy

John Maxwell

Fireman Second Class John Maxwell, Navy, 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

Fireman Second Class John Maxwell was a sailor in the U.S. Navy who 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. Maxwell was 23 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 Oiler.

Maxwell was born on June 26, 1874 in Brooklyn, Kings County, New York. His Medal of Honor is credited to New York. Maxwell died on November 13, 1931 in Westbury, New York, at the age of 57. He is buried at Friends Cemetery in Westbury, New York.

Maxwell 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, Maxwell 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: Lanarkshire — map
  • Died: Westbury — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in New York →

Timeline

  1. June 26, 1874
    Born in Brooklyn, Kings County, New York
  2. May 11, 1898
    Act of valor — Cienfuegos, Cuba
    Age 23. U.S.S. Marblehead
  3. November 13, 1931
    Died in Westbury, New York
    Age 57.
  4. Resting place
    Friends Cemetery
    Westbury, New York

Biography

John Maxwell (June 21, 1874 – November 13, 1931) was a fireman second class serving in the United States Navy during the Spanish–American War who received the Medal of Honor for bravery.

From the Wikipedia article “John Maxwell (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 New York

JM John Edward Murphy Coxswain · Navy Spanish-American War · 1898 HP Herman Pfisterer Musician · Army Spanish-American War · 1898 Richmond Pearson Hobson Lieutenant · Navy Spanish-American War · 1898 Claus Kristian randolph Clausen Coxswain · Navy Spanish-American War · 1898 WK William G. Keller Private · Army Spanish-American War · 1898 Albert Leopold Mills Captain & Assistant Adjutant General · 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.