Criteria The Spanish War Service Medal commemorates certain service during the Spanish-American War. It was awarded for military service of not less than ninety days between April 20, 1898, and April 11, 1899,... The Spanish War Service Medal commemorates certain service during the Spanish-American War. It was awarded for military service of not less than ninety days between April 20, 1898, and April 11, 1899, to servicemen who were not eligible for the Spanish Campaign Medal. The Spanish War Service Medal was originally intended for members of the National Guard mobilized during the Spanish-American War but who were not eligible for the Spanish Campaign Medal. MoreHide
Criteria The Philippine Congressional Medal was a decoration of the United States Army which was established by the United States Congress on July 9, 1906. The decoration recognized those soldiers who had enli... The Philippine Congressional Medal was a decoration of the United States Army which was established by the United States Congress on July 9, 1906. The decoration recognized those soldiers who had enlisted in the United States Army for the purpose of the Philippine-American War. MoreHide
Criteria The Dewey Medal was a military decoration of the United States Navy which was established by the United States Congress on June 3, 1898. The medal recognizes the leadership of Admiral of the Navy Geor... The Dewey Medal was a military decoration of the United States Navy which was established by the United States Congress on June 3, 1898. The medal recognizes the leadership of Admiral of the Navy George Dewey, during the Spanish-American War, and the sailors and marines under his command. MoreHide
Criteria The Spanish Campaign Medal was awarded for military service in, or on the high seas en route to, any of the following countries during the dates indicated: Cuba (May 11 to July 17, 1898), Puerto Rico ... The Spanish Campaign Medal was awarded for military service in, or on the high seas en route to, any of the following countries during the dates indicated: Cuba (May 11 to July 17, 1898), Puerto Rico (July 24 to August 13, 1898) or Philippine Islands (June 30 to 16 August 16, 1898). MoreHide
Description The Spanish–American War (Spanish: Guerra hispano-estadounidense or Guerra hispano-americana; Filipino: Digmaang Espanyol-Amerikano) was a conflict fought between Spain and the United States in 1898. The Spanish–American War (Spanish: Guerra hispano-estadounidense or Guerra hispano-americana; Filipino: Digmaang Espanyol-Amerikano) was a conflict fought between Spain and the United States in 1898. Hostilities began in the aftermath of the internal explosion of the USS Maine in Havana harbor in Cuba leading to United States intervention in the Cuban War of Independence. American acquisition of Spain's Pacific possessions led to its involvement in the Philippine Revolution and ultimately in the Philippine–American War.
Revolts had been occurring for some years in Cuba against Spanish rule. The U.S. later backed these revolts upon entering the Spanish–American War. There had been war scares before, as in the Virginius Affair in 1873. In the late 1890s, US public opinion was agitated by anti-Spanish propaganda led by newspaper publishers such as Joseph Pulitzer and William Randolph Hearst which used yellow journalism to call for war. The business community across the United States had just recovered from a deep depression, and feared that a war would reverse the gains. They lobbied vigorously against going to war.
The US Navy battleship Maine was mysteriously sunk in Havana harbor; political pressures from the Democratic Party pushed the administration of Republican President William McKinley into a war that he had wished to avoid.[9] Spain promised time and time again that it would reform, but never delivered. The United States sent an ultimatum to Spain demanding that it surrender control of Cuba. First Madrid declared war, and Washington then followed suit.
The main issue was Cuban independence; the ten-week war was fought in both the Caribbean and the Pacific. US naval power proved decisive, allowing expeditionary forces to disembark in Cuba against a Spanish garrison already facing nationwide Cuban insurgent attacks and further wasted by yellow fever. Numerically superior Cuban, Philippine, and US forces obtained the surrender of Santiago de Cuba and Manila despite the good performance of some Spanish infantry units and fierce fighting for positions such as San Juan Hill. Madrid sued for peace with two obsolete Spanish squadrons sunk in Santiago de Cuba and Manila Bay and a third, more modern fleet recalled home to protect the Spanish coasts.
The result was the 1898 Treaty of Paris, negotiated on terms favorable to the US which allowed it temporary control of Cuba and ceded ownership of Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippine islands. The cession of the Philippines involved payment of $20 million ($575,760,000 today) to Spain by the US to cover infrastructure owned by Spain.
The defeat and collapse of the Spanish Empire was a profound shock to Spain's national psyche, and provoked a thorough philosophical and artistic revaluation of Spanish society known as the Generation of '98.[ The United States gained several island possessions spanning the globe and a rancorous new debate over the wisdom of expansionism. It was one of only five US wars (against a total of eleven sovereign states) to have been formally declared by Congress.... More
Description
A failed attempt, as the fleet was assigned to enter Cardenas Bay and destroy the three Spanish gunboats reportedly moored in the harbor.
Memories As the war with Spain approached toward the end of April, 1898, Purdy began to get concerned. Not thAs the war with Spain approached toward the end of April, 1898, Purdy began to get concerned. Not that he feared battle - he had seen that on numerous occasion - but because his sailor's superstition recalled something of concern - the upcoming 35 anniversary of the Battle of Chancellorsville. This was enough of a concern for Purdy that he felt he had to say something. One author recorded the ensuing events as follows "One man named Purdy, a privileged character?was noticed by Commodore Dewey on Saturday to be making a pretense of finding something to do on the port side of the upper deck, where his duties did not call him. As the Commodore was familiar with the ways of old seamen, he saw that Purdy had something on his mind and said: 'Well, Purdy, what is it' 'I hope, sir,' said Purdy, saluting, 'that ye don't intend to fight in the 3d of May' 'And why not, what is it?' 'Ye see, sir,' said the old man, seriously, 'I got licked the last time I fought on the 3d of May.' Purdy had gone to defeat at Chancellorsville under 'Fighting Joe' Hooker. 'All right, Purdy,' said the Commodore, "we won't fight on the 3d; but when we do fight, you'll have another kind of May anniversary to think about; remember that my man.'" ... More
Memories Joining the navy, he shipped out on the KEARSARGE. He was "manning the guns" aboard the KEARSARGE thJoining the navy, he shipped out on the KEARSARGE. He was "manning the guns" aboard the KEARSARGE the day she met the ALABAMA in the famous Civil War naval battle. Purdy may have been the only man to serve both at Gettysburg and in the famous naval battle. Following the battle, twenty of the KEARSARGE's crewmen vowed never to leave the navy, and to seal the vow, each had a blue star tattooed on their forehead . Gilbert Purdy was among them, and it was a mark and a vow that Purdy would carry for the rest of his life. ... More
Was a SGT in the Union army during the Civil War