Serving as a soldier in the U.S. Army, First Lieutenant John William Heard received the Medal of Honor for his actions on July 23, 1898 at mouth of Manimani River, west of Bahia Honda, Cuba during the Spanish-American War. At the time he was serving with 3d U.S. Cavalry. Heard was 38 years old.
The medal was presented on June 21, 1899. He later rose to the rank of Brigadier General.
Heard was born on March 27, 1860 in Woodstock, Mississippi. His Medal of Honor is credited to Mississippi. Heard died on February 4, 1922 in New Orleans, Louisiana, at the age of 61. He is buried at U.S. Military Academy Cemetery in West Point, New York.
Heard is one of 110 Medal of Honor recipients from the Spanish-American War and one of 18 credited to Mississippi.
Official Medal of Honor citation
After two men had been shot down by Spaniards while transmitting orders to the engine-room on the Wanderer, the ship having become disabled, this officer took the position held by them and personally transmitted the orders, remaining at his post until the ship was out of danger.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Battles and campaigns
Also served in: Philippine–American War, Spanish–American War.
Life beyond the battlefield
- Education: United States Military Academy
Source: Wikidata.
Places
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Mississippi →
Timeline
- March 27, 1860Born in Woodstock, Mississippi
- July 23, 1898Act of valor — at mouth of Manimani River, west of Bahia Honda, CubaAge 38. 3d U.S. Cavalry
- June 21, 1899Medal of Honor presented
- February 4, 1922Died in New Orleans, LouisianaAge 61.
- Resting placeU.S. Military Academy CemeteryWest Point, New York
Biography
John William (or Wilkinson) Heard (March 27, 1860 – February 4, 1922) was a United States Army Brigadier General who was a recipient of the Medal of Honor for valor in action on July 23, 1898, near Bahia Honda, Cuba.
From the Wikipedia article “John W. Heard”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
