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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Private · U.S. Marine Corps

Joseph H. Leonard

Private Joseph H. Leonard, Marine Corps, received the Medal of Honor for actions on April 4, 1899 in Philippine Islands during the Philippine Insurrection.

Philippine Insurrection April 4, 1899

Serving as a Marine in the U.S. Marine Corps, Private Joseph H. Leonard received the Medal of Honor for his actions on April 4, 1899 in Philippine Islands during the Philippine Insurrection. At the time he was serving with attached to the 8th Army Corps. Leonard was 22 years old.

One other service member also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. He later rose to the rank of Sergeant.

Leonard was born on August 28, 1876 in Cohoes, Albany County, New York. His Medal of Honor is credited to New York, New York. Leonard died on September 23, 1946 in Yountville, California, at the age of 70. He is buried at Veterans Home of California Cemetery in Yountville, California. Records also list him as Joseph Melvin.

Leonard is one of 82 Medal of Honor recipients from the Philippine Insurrection and one of 678 credited to New York.

Official Medal of Honor citation

For distinguished conduct in the presence of the enemy in battles, while with the 8th Army Corps on 25, 27, 29 March, and 4 April 1899.

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

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: Philippine–American War.

Places

  • Born: Cohoes — map
  • Died: Yountville — map
  • Buried: California State Veterans Home Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in New York →

From the archives

This Medal of Honor Recipient enlisted under the name "Joseph Melvin." Melvin was his mother's maiden name. By the time the Medal of Honor was awarded, he had corrected the record to his legal name, Joseph H. Leonard, so the Medal was awarded under that name.

Timeline

  1. August 28, 1876
    Born in Cohoes, Albany County, New York
  2. April 4, 1899
    Act of valor — Philippine Islands
    Age 22. attached to the 8th Army Corps
  3. September 23, 1946
    Died in Yountville, California
    Age 70.
  4. Resting place
    Veterans Home of California Cemetery
    Yountville, California

Biography

Joseph H Leonard (August 28, 1876–September 23, 1946) was a United States Marine private received the Medal of Honor for actions during the Philippine–American War. Leonard joined the Marine Corps from Brooklyn in June 1897, and was honorably discharged five years later. He later served during World War I from April 1918 to July 1919.

From the Wikipedia article “Joseph Leonard (soldier)”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

Also honored for actions on April 4, 1899

HB Howard Major Buckley Private · Marine Corps Philippine Insurrection · 1899

More Philippine Insurrection recipients from New York

George Evans Stewart Second Lieutenant · Army Philippine Insurrection · 1899 LV Louis Joseph van Schaick First Lieutenant · Army Philippine Insurrection · 1901 AF Andrew Peter Forbeck Seaman · Navy Philippine Insurrection · 1900 RG Robert Galbraith Gunner's Mate Third Class · Navy Philippine Insurrection · 1899 William Hampden Sage Captain · Army Philippine Insurrection · 1899 WT William George Thordsen Coxswain · Navy Philippine Insurrection · 1900
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.