Henry P Russell

Henry was born on the 10th of June 1878, in Quebec, Canada, and he enlisted in the US Navy on the 11th of December 1896, from New York. When he deployed to Cuba in support of the Spanish-American War, he was a Landsman and his actions during the hour-long Battle of Cienfuegos would later earn him the Medal of Honor. The citation reads:

On board the U.S.S. Marblehead during the operation of cutting the cable leading from Cienfuegos, Cuba, 11 May 1898. Facing the heavy fire of the enemy, Russell displayed extraordinary bravery and coolness throughout this action.

Henry received the Medal of Honor on the 7th of July 1899, becoming one of fifty-two sailors and marines to receive the Medal of Honor for that battle. Five months later, Henry left the Navy, and he joined the US Army about four and a half years later, serving in the cavalry and artillery during World War 1. Henry retired from the Army after almost twenty-eight years of collective service at the rank of Master Sergeant. As if that wasn’t enough time in uniform, he then received a commission as a First Lieutenant with the New Hampshire National Guard in May of 1930, was promoted to Captain on the 11th of October 1931, and I am unsure of his final discharge date, though his gravestone lists him as serving during World War 2. Henry Peter Russell died on the 1st of December 1956, at the age of 78 and he is buried in Arlington National Cemetery: Section 31, Lot 6377.