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NELSON, Lauritz (Sailmaker / MOH), CBM USN(Ret).
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Contact Info
Date of Passing Sep 16, 1941
Location of Interment Long Island National Cemetery (VA) - Farmingdale, New York
LAURITZ NELSON Sailmaker 2n/c • US Navy
Medal of Honor
Spanish American War
Lauritz Nelson (March 26, 1860-September 16, 1941) was a sailmaker's mate serving in the United States Navy during the Spanish-American War who received the Medal of Honor for bravery.
Biography:
Nelson was born March 26, 1860 in Norway and after entering the navy was sent to fight in the Spanish-American War aboard the torpedo boat U.S.S. Nashville as a sailmaker's mate. The Sailmaker rating did not advance beyond 1st Class and so Nelson retired as a Chief Boatswain's Mate.
He died September 16, 1941 at age 81 and is buried in Long Island National Cemetery Farmingdale, New York. His grave can be found in section dds, site 2.
Other Comments:
Medal of Honor Awarded for actions during the Spanish-American War
For The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Sailmaker's Mate Lauritz Nelson, United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism in action on board the U.S.S. Nashville during the operation of cutting the cable leading from Cienfuegos, Cuba, 11 May 1898. Facing the heavy fire of the enemy, Sailmaker's Mate Nelson displayed extraordinary bravery and coolness throughout this action.
General Orders: War Department, General Orders No. 521 (July 7, 1899) Action Date: May 11, 1898 Service: Navy Rank: Sailmaker's Mate Division: U.S.S. Nashville
Spanish-American War
From Month/Year
April / 1898
To Month/Year
August / 1898
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. 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.
My Participation in This Battle or Operation
From Month/Year
April / 1898
To Month/Year
August / 1898
Last Updated: Mar 16, 2020
Personal Memories
Memories Awarded the Medal of Honor. citation
Rank and organization: Sailmaker's Mate, U.S. Navy. Born: 26 March 1860, Norway. G.O. No.: 521, 7 July 1899.
Citation:
On board the U.S.S. Nashville during the operation of cutting the cable leading from Cienfuegos, Cuba, 11 May 1898. Facing the heavy fire of the enemy, Nelson displayed extraordinary bravery and coolness throughout this action.