b. 06/1866 Dinwiddie County, Virginia. d. 14/09/1899 Leavenworth, Kansas.
DATE OF MOH ACTION: 30/06/1898 Tayabacoa, Cuba.
Fitz Lee MOH
Lee joined the Army from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in December 1889, and by June 30, 1898, he was serving as a private in Troop M of the 10th Cavalry Regiment. On that day, American forces aboard the Florida near Trinidad, Cuba, dispatched a landing party to provide reconnaissance on Spanish outposts 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.
The men aboard the Florida launched several rescue attempts; the first four were forced to retreat under heavy fire. The fifth attempt, by Lee and three other privates of the 10th Cavalry (Dennis Bell, William H. Thompkins and George H. Wanton) under the command of Lieutenant Ahern, was launched at night and successfully found and rescued the surviving members of the landing party. 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.
Fitz Lee died less than three months after receiving the medal.
MOH CITATION:
Voluntarily went ashore in the face of the enemy and aided in the rescue of his wounded comrades; this after several previous attempts had been frustrated.
BURIAL LOCATION: FORT LEAVENWORTH NATIONAL CEMETERY, FORT LEAVENWORTH, KANSAS.
SECTION G, GRAVE 3183.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: UNKNOWN.
