Oscar was born on the 19th of July 1869, in Byron, Wisconsin, and he enlisted in the US Army in Milwaukee in January of 1893. He was a Private with the 17th Infantry Regiment when he deployed to Cuba in support of the Spanish-American War and it was his actions, along with eight others, that would earn him the Medal of Honor. The citation reads:

Gallantly assisted in the rescue of the wounded from in front of the lines and under heavy fire from the enemy.

The commander of the 17th Infantry, Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Haskell, had gone out on a reconnaissance with the regimental quartermaster and both had taken fire and were wounded. Haskell was immobilized but the quartermaster was able to fetch help. Oscar was one of nine to immediately respond, without orders, to rescue Haskell. Two of the seven enlisted men were wounded, and Oscar was one of the remaining five to reach Haskell and bring him to safety, where he eventually died from his wounds. Oscar was discharged from the Army in March of 1899 and was married to Ella, and I found no record of children. Oscar Brookins died on the 18th of August 1938, at the age of 69 due to a severe reaction to a gall bladder issue. He is buried in the Sunset Cemetery in Galloway, Ohio: Section 10, Lot 219, Grave 1.