b. 03/10/1872 Paterson, New Jersey. d. 24/09/1916 San Francisco, California.
DATE OF MOH ACTION: 30/06/1898 Tayabacoa, Cuba.
William H Thompkins MOH
Thompkins joined the army from Cleveland, Ohio, in August 1889, claiming to be 21 years old. By June 30, 1898, was serving as a private in Troop G of the 10th Cavalry Regiment. On that day, American forces aboard the USS 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, manned by Thompkins and three other privates of the 10th Cavalry (Dennis Bell, Fitz Lee, and George H. Wanton) under the command of Lieutenant Ahern, 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.
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 at rescue had been frustrated.
BURIAL LOCATION: SAN FRANCISCO NATIONAL CEMETERY, SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.
SECTION WS, GRAVE 1036, LOT A.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: BELIEVED TO BE FAMILY.
