Serving as a sailor in the U.S. Navy, Seaman Robert Volz 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. Nashville. Volz was 23 years old.
54 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on August 16, 1899 — presented by Commander Raymond P. Rodgers of the USS Nashville at the Charlestown, MA, Navy Yard. He later rose to the rank of Gunner's Mate First Class.
Volz was born on January 31, 1875 in San Francisco, San Francisco County, California. His Medal of Honor is credited to Virginia. Volz died in 1939 in Avellaneda, Province of Buenos Aires, Argentina, at the age of about 64.
Volz is one of 110 Medal of Honor recipients from the Spanish-American War and one of 48 credited to Virginia.
Official Medal of Honor citation
On board the U.S.S. Nashville during the operation of cutting the cable leading from Cienfuegos, Cuba, 11 May 1898. Facing the heavy fire of the enemy, Volz displayed extraordinary bravery and coolness thoughout this period.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Battles and campaigns
Also served in: Spanish–American War.
Places
- Born: San Francisco — map
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Virginia →
From the archives
Robert Volz' first enlistment in the US Navy was in 1897. He re-enlisted in 1900. On October 11, 1904, he deserted the USS Atlanta at Buenos Aires, Argentina, while under guard awaiting a General Court Martial. He later became naturalized, married, and lived the rest of his life in Argentina, dying there sometime in 1939, according to records from that country.
Timeline
- January 31, 1875Born in San Francisco, San Francisco County, California
- May 11, 1898Act of valor — Cienfuegos, CubaAge 23. U.S.S. Nashville
- August 16, 1899Medal of Honor presentedPresented by Commander Raymond P. Rodgers of the USS Nashville at the Charlestown, MA, Navy Yard.
- 1939Died in Avellaneda, Province of Buenos Aires, ArgentinaAge about 64.
Biography
Robert Volz (born January 31, 1875) was a seaman serving in the United States Navy during the Spanish–American War who received the Medal of Honor for bravery.
From the Wikipedia article “Robert Volz”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
