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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Private · U.S. Army

Oscar Brookin

Private Oscar Brookin, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on July 1, 1898 in El Caney, Cuba during the Spanish-American War.

Spanish-American War July 1, 1898

Private Oscar Brookin, a soldier in the U.S. Army, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry on July 1, 1898 in El Caney, Cuba during the Spanish-American War. At the time he was serving with Company C, 17th U.S. Infantry. Brookin was 28 years old.

23 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on June 21, 1899.

Brookin was born on July 19, 1869 in Byron, Fond Du Lac County, Wisconsin. His Medal of Honor is credited to Green County, Ohio. Brookin died on August 18, 1938, at the age of 69. He is buried at Sunset Cemetery in Galloway, Ohio. Records also list him as Brookins, Oscar.

Brookin is one of 110 Medal of Honor recipients from the Spanish-American War and one of 256 credited to Ohio.

★ Rescue & Lifesaving

Official Medal of Honor citation

Gallantly assisted in the rescue of the wounded from in front of the lines and under heavy fire from the enemy.

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

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: Battle of El Caney, Spanish–American War.

Places

  • Born: Byron — map
  • Died: Ohio — map
  • Buried: Sunset Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Ohio →

Timeline

  1. July 19, 1869
    Born in Byron, Fond Du Lac County, Wisconsin
  2. July 1, 1898
    Act of valor — El Caney, Cuba
    Age 28. Company C, 17th U.S. Infantry
  3. June 21, 1899
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. August 18, 1938
    Died
    Age 69.
  5. Resting place
    Sunset Cemetery
    Galloway, Ohio

Biography

Oscar Brookin (or Brookins) (19 July 1869 in Byron, Wisconsin – 18 August 1938) served in the United States Army during the Spanish–American War. He received the Medal of Honor for his actions during the Battle of El Caney. Brookin joined the army from Milwaukee, Wisconsin in January 1893, and served until being discharged in March 1899. He died in 1938 and is buried in Sunset Cemetery in Galloway, Ohio.

From the Wikipedia article “Oscar Brookin”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

Also honored for actions on July 1, 1898

EB Edward Lee Baker Jr. Sergeant Major · Army Spanish-American War · 1898 GB George Francis Berg Private · Army Spanish-American War · 1898 UB Ulysses G. Buzzard Private · Army Spanish-American War · 1898 Charles P. Cantrell Private · Army Spanish-American War · 1898 AC Andrew Johnson Cummins Sergeant · Army Spanish-American War · 1898 JD John Francis Deswan Private · Army Spanish-American War · 1898 TD Thomas M. Doherty Corporal · Army Spanish-American War · 1898 FF Frank Ottis Fournia Private · Army Spanish-American War · 1898 TG Thomas J. Graves Private · Army Spanish-American War · 1898 BH Benjamin Franklin Hardaway First Lieutenant · Army Spanish-American War · 1898 WK William G. Keller Private · Army Spanish-American War · 1898 TK Thomas Kelly Private · Army Spanish-American War · 1898

See all 24 recipients for July 1, 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.