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Gunner's Mate Second Class · U.S. Navy

William Oakley

Gunner's Mate Second Class William Oakley, 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 England

Serving as a sailor in the U.S. Navy, Gunner's Mate Second Class William Oakley 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. Oakley was 37 years old.

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

Oakley was born on August 25, 1860 in Colchester, England — one of 98 recipients born in England. His Medal of Honor is credited to New York. Oakley died on November 22, 1918 in Wivenhoe, England, at the age of 58. He is buried at Wivanhoe Cemetery in Wivenhoe, England.

Oakley 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 1898. Facing the heavy fire of the enemy, Oakley displayed extraordinary bravery and coolness throughout this period.

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

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: Spanish–American War.

Places

  • Born: England — map
  • Died: Wivenhoe — map
  • Buried: Wivenhoe (Bellevue Road) Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in New York →

Timeline

  1. August 25, 1860
    Born in Colchester, England
  2. May 11, 1898
    Act of valor — Cienfuegos, Cuba
    Age 37. U.S.S. Marblehead
  3. November 22, 1918
    Died in Wivenhoe, England
    Age 58.
  4. Resting place
    Wivanhoe Cemetery
    Wivenhoe

Biography

William Oakley (31 August 1857 – 22 November 1918) was a gunner'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 Oakley (Medal of Honor)”, 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

John Fitzgerald Private · Marine Corps Spanish-American War · 1898 Richmond Pearson Hobson Lieutenant · Navy Spanish-American War · 1898 TK Thomas Kelly Private · Army Spanish-American War · 1898 FF Frank Ottis Fournia Private · Army Spanish-American War · 1898 JM John Edward Murphy Coxswain · Navy Spanish-American War · 1898 Albert Leopold Mills Captain & Assistant Adjutant General · 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.