Fireman First Class John Walter Ehle, a sailor in the U.S. Navy, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry on May 21, 1898 off Cavite, Manila Bay, Luzon during the Spanish-American War. At the time he was serving with U.S.S. Concord. Ehle was 25 years old.
2 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day.
Ehle was born on May 11, 1873 in Kearney, Buffalo County, Nebraska. His Medal of Honor is credited to Nebraska. Ehle died on July 25, 1927 in Presido of San Francisco, California, at the age of 54. He is buried at St. Mary's Cemetery in Oakland, California.
Ehle is one of 110 Medal of Honor recipients from the Spanish-American War and one of 20 credited to Nebraska.
Official Medal of Honor citation
On board the U.S.S. Concord off Cavite, Manila Bay, P.I., 21 May 1898. Following the blowing-out of a lower manhole plate joint on boiler B of that vessel, Ehle assisted in hauling the fires in the hot, vapor-filled atmosphere, which necessitated the playing of water into the fireroom from a hose.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Battles and campaigns
Also served in: Spanish–American War.
Places
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Nebraska →
Timeline
- May 11, 1873Born in Kearney, Buffalo County, Nebraska
- May 21, 1898Act of valor — off Cavite, Manila Bay, LuzonAge 25. U.S.S. Concord
- July 25, 1927Died in Presido of San Francisco, CaliforniaAge 54.
- Resting placeSt. Mary's CemeteryOakland, California
Biography
John Walter Ehle (May 11, 1873 – July 25, 1927) was a Fireman First 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 Walter Ehle”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →