Gunner's Mate First Class William Spicer 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. Spicer was 34 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 Chief Gunner's Mate.
Spicer was born on May 28, 1864 in Liverpool, England — one of 98 recipients born in England. His Medal of Honor is credited to New York. Spicer died on December 14, 1949 in Long Beach, California, at the age of 85. He is buried at Mount Hope Cemetery in Mattapan, Massachusetts.
Spicer 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, Spicer 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
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in New York →
Timeline
- May 28, 1864Born in Liverpool, England
- July 26 - 27, 1898Act of valor — approaches to Caimanera, Guantanamo Bay, CubaAge 34. U.S.S. Marblehead
- December 14, 1949Died in Long Beach, CaliforniaAge 85.
- Resting placeMount Hope CemeteryMattapan, Massachusetts
Biography
William Spicer (May 28, 1864 – December 14, 1949) was a gunner's mate first class serving in the United States Navy during the Spanish–American War who received the Medal of Honor for bravery. He was the great-grandfather of former White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer.
From the Wikipedia article “William Spicer (Medal of Honor)”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
