William Spicer (Medal of Honor)

William Spicer
Born	(1864-05-28)May 28, 1864 Liverpool, England
Died	December 14, 1949(1949-12-14) (aged 85)
Allegiance	United States of America
Service / branch	United States Navy
Rank	Gunner's Mate First Class
Unit	USS Marblehead (C-11)
Battles / wars	Spanish–American War
Awards	Medal of Honor

William Spicer (May 28, 1864 – December 14, 1949) was a gunner's mate first class serving in the United States Navy during the Spanish–American War who received the Medal of Honor for bravery. He was the great-grandfather of former White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer.

Biography

Spicer was born May 28, 1864, in Liverpool, England, and was living in New York City when he enlisted in the U.S. Navy on November 27, 1890. He served in the Spanish–American War aboard the USS Marblehead (C-11) as a gunner's mate first class.[1][2]

Medal of Honor citation

Rank and organization: Gunner's Mate First Class, U.S. Navy. Born: 28 May 1864, England. Accredited to. New York. G.O. No.: 500, 14 December 1898.

Citation:

On board the U.S.S. Marblehead at the approaches to Caimanera, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, 26 and 27 July 1898. Displaying heroism, Spicer took part in the perilous work of sweeping for and disabling 27 contact mines during this period.[2]

See also

• List of Medal of Honor recipients for the Spanish–American War

References

1. "William Spicer". Hall of Valor. Military Times. Retrieved August 30, 2011.
2. He was later promoted to Chief Gunners Mate. On September 11, 1903 he was warranted as a boatswain and on, July 30, 1909, he was promoted to chief boatswain. He died in Boston, Massachusetts at the age of 85. He is buried in the Mount Hope Cemetery in Boston. "War with Spain; Spicer, William entry". Medal of Honor recipients, War With Spain. United States Army Center of Military History. August 3, 2009. Archived from the original on April 23, 2009. Retrieved July 21, 2010.