William Henry Morin – Medal of Honor, Spanish-American War (1898)

Boatswain's Mate Second Class William Henry Morin was a sailor in the U.S. Navy who received the Medal of Honor for his actions between July 26 and 27, 1898 in approaches to Caimanera, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba during the Spanish-American War. At the time he was serving with U.S.S. Marblehead. Morin was 30 years old.

3 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. He later rose to the rank of Boatswain.

Morin was born on May 23, 1868 in Birmingham, England — one of 98 recipients born in England. His Medal of Honor is credited to New York. Morin died on August 29, 1935 in Staten Island, New York, at the age of 67. He is buried at St. John's Cemetery in Middle Village, New York.

Morin 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 at the approaches to Caimanera, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, 26 and 27 July 1898. Displaying heroism, Morin took part in the perilous work of sweeping for and disabling 27 contact mines during this period.

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

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: Spanish–American War.

Places

Born: England — map
Buried: St. John Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in New York →

Timeline

May 23, 1868
Born in Birmingham, England
July 26 - 27, 1898
Act of valor — approaches to Caimanera, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba
Age 30. U.S.S. Marblehead
August 29, 1935
Died in Staten Island, New York
Age 67.
Resting place
St. John's Cemetery
Middle Village, New York

Biography

William Henry Morin (May 23, 1869 – August 29, 1935) was a boatswain's mate second class serving in the United States Navy during the Spanish–American War who received the Medal of Honor for bravery.

From the Wikipedia article “William H. Morin”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

Also honored for actions on July 26 - 27, 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

Same unit

JB James Harvey Bennett Chief Boatswain's Mate · 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

John Davis Gunner's Mate Third Class · Navy Spanish-American War · 1898 JD John James Doran Boatswain's Mate Second Class · Navy Spanish-American War · 1898 NE Nicholas Erickson Coxswain · Navy Spanish-American War · 1898 WF William Farley Boatswain's Mate · Navy Civil War · 1863

More Spanish-American War recipients from New York

JM John Edward Murphy Coxswain · Navy Spanish-American War · 1898 JJ Johan J. Johansson Ordinary Seaman · Navy Spanish-American War · 1898 FF Frank Ottis Fournia Private · Army Spanish-American War · 1898 TH Thomas Hoban Coxswain · Navy Spanish-American War · 1898

Richmond Pearson Hobson Lieutenant · Navy Spanish-American War · 1898 JE John Eglit Seaman · 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.