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Boatswain's Mate First Class · U.S. Navy

Julius August robert Wilke

Boatswain's Mate First Class Julius August robert Wilke, 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, 1898Born in Germany

Serving as a sailor in the U.S. Navy, Boatswain's Mate First Class Julius August robert Wilke 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. Wilke was 37 years old.

54 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day.

Wilke was born on November 14, 1860 in Germany — one of 130 recipients born in Germany. His Medal of Honor is credited to New York. Wilke died on February 22, 1914 in Norfolk, Virginia, at the age of 53. He is buried at Ted Conaway National Cemetery in Portsmouth, Virginia.

Wilke 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 1989. Facing the heavy fire of the enemy, Wilke 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: Germany — map
  • Buried: Captain Ted Conaway Memorial Naval Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in New York →

Timeline

  1. November 14, 1860
    Born in Germany
  2. May 11, 1898
    Act of valor — Cienfuegos, Cuba
    Age 37. U.S.S. Marblehead
  3. February 22, 1914
    Died in Norfolk, Virginia
    Age 53.
  4. Resting place
    Ted Conaway National Cemetery
    Portsmouth, Virginia

Biography

Julius August Robert Wilke (November 14, 1860 – December 22, 1914) was an American sailor serving in the United States Navy during the Spanish–American War who received the Medal of Honor for bravery.

From the Wikipedia article “Julius A. R. Wilke”, 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 John Fitzgerald Private · Marine Corps Spanish-American War · 1898 Claus Kristian randolph Clausen Coxswain · Navy Spanish-American War · 1898 TK Thomas Kelly Private · 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.