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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Private · U.S. Army

William G. Keller

Private William G. Keller, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on July 1, 1898 in Santiago de Cuba, Cuba during the Spanish-American War.

Spanish-American War July 1, 1898

Serving as a soldier in the U.S. Army, Private William G. Keller received the Medal of Honor for his actions on July 1, 1898 in Santiago de Cuba, Cuba during the Spanish-American War. At the time he was serving with Company F, 10th U.S. Infantry. Keller was 22 years old.

23 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on June 22, 1899. He later rose to the rank of Corporal.

Keller was born on April 19, 1876 in Buffalo, Erie County, New York. Keller died on September 20, 1963 in Sarasota, Florida, at the age of 87. He is buried at Lakeview Cemetery in Cleveland, Ohio.

Keller is one of 110 Medal of Honor recipients from the Spanish-American War and one of 678 credited to New York.

★ 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 of the enemy.

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

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: Spanish–American War.

Places

  • Born: Buffalo — map
  • Buried: Lake View Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in New York →

Timeline

  1. April 19, 1876
    Born in Buffalo, Erie County, New York
  2. July 1, 1898
    Act of valor — Santiago de Cuba, Cuba
    Age 22. Company F, 10th U.S. Infantry
  3. June 22, 1899
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. September 20, 1963
    Died in Sarasota, Florida
    Age 87.
  5. Resting place
    Lakeview Cemetery
    Cleveland, Ohio

Biography

William G. Keller (April 19, 1876 – September 20, 1963) was a United States Army soldier who received the Medal of Honor, the United States' highest military decoration for valor, for his actions during the Spanish–American War. As a private in Company F of the 10th U.S. Infantry, Keller distinguished himself on July 1, 1898, during the advance on Santiago de Cuba. He assisted in the rescue of wounded soldiers from in front of the lines while under heavy enemy fire at San Juan Hill, carrying them a mile to safety. Keller was officially awarded the Medal of Honor on June 22, 1899.

From the Wikipedia article “William Keller (Medal of Honor)”, 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 OB Oscar Brookin 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 TK Thomas Kelly Private · Army Spanish-American War · 1898

See all 24 recipients for July 1, 1898 →

More Spanish-American War recipients from New York

JB James Harvey Bennett Chief Boatswain's Mate · Navy Spanish-American War · 1898 FW Frank Williams Seaman · Navy Spanish-American War · 1898 HK Hermann Wilhelm Kuchneister Private · Marine Corps Spanish-American War · 1898 WO William Oakley Gunner's Mate Second Class · Navy Spanish-American War · 1898 OF Oscar Wadsworth Field Private · Marine Corps Spanish-American War · 1898 HR Henry Peter Russell Landsman · Navy 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.