George Henry Wanton
Born(1868-05-15)May 15, 1868
Paterson, New Jersey, US
DiedNovember 27, 1940(1940-11-27) (aged 72)
Place of burial
Arlington National Cemetery
AllegianceUnited States
Service/branchUnited States Navy
United States Army
Years of service1884–1888 (Navy)
1889–1925 (Army)
RankMaster Sergeant
UnitTroop M, 10th Cavalry Regiment
Battles/warsSpanish–American War
*Battle of Tayacoba
AwardsMedal of Honor

George Henry Wanton (May 15, 1868 – November 27, 1940) was a Buffalo Soldier in the United States Army and a recipient of America's highest military decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in the Spanish–American War. Wanton and three of his fellow Buffalo Soldiers were the last black servicemen to be presented the Medal of Honor for more than half a century.

Biography

Wanton was born on May 15, 1868, in Paterson, New Jersey, the son of William H. and Margaret (Miller) Wanton.[1] He served in the Navy from 1884 to 1888, and joined the Army in August 1889. By June 30, 1898, was serving as a Private in Troop M of the 10th Cavalry Regiment. He and 49 other Buffalo Soldiers were selected to serve in a special operations role during Battle of Tayacoba. On that day, American forces aboard the Florida near Trinidad, Cuba, dispatched a landing party to provide reconnaissance on Spanish outposts in the area prior to a planned deployment of Cuban resistance fighters in the area. The party was discovered by Spanish scouts and came under heavy fire; their boats were sunk by enemy cannon fire, leaving them stranded on shore.[2]

The men aboard the Florida launched several rescue attempts; the first four were forced to retreat under heavy fire. The fifth attempt, manned by Wanton and three other Privates of the 10th Cavalry (Dennis Bell, Fitz Lee, and William H. Thompkins) under the command of Lieutenant Ahern, launched at night and successfully found and rescued the surviving members of the landing party. Upon return to the ship, Wanton volunteered to go back and retrieve the body of Captain Jose Manuel Núñez (brother of General Emilio Núñez) who had been killed on the beach, but this was deemed too risky.[3]

One year later, on June 23, 1899, four of the rescuers were awarded the Medal of Honor for their actions in what had come to be known as the Battle of Tayacoba.

In November 1921, Wanton was selected as an Honorary Pallbearer at the burial of the Unknown Soldier.[1]

George Wanton reached the rank of Master Sergeant and served in the Quartermaster Corps before leaving the Army.

He died at age 72 and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington County, Virginia.

Medal of Honor citation

Private Wanton's official Medal of Honor citation reads:

Voluntarily went ashore in the face of the enemy and aided in the rescue of his wounded comrades; this after several previous attempts at rescue had been frustrated.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Yenser, Thomas, ed. (1933). Who's Who in Colored America: A Biographical Dictionary of Notable Living Persons of African Descent in America 1930-1931-1932 (Third ed.). Brooklyn, New York: Who's Who in Colored America. p. 442.
  2. ↑ Schubert, Frank N. (1997). Black Valor: Buffalo Soldiers and the Medal of Honor, 1870-1898. Scholarly Resources Inc. pp. 135-141. ISBN 9780842025867.
  3. ↑ "10th U.S. Cavalry history, 1898".
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