John Baxter Kinne

Infobox Military Person
name= John Baxter Kinne
born= birth date|1877|12|3
died= death date and age|1954|7|19|1877|12|14
placeofbirth= Beloit, Wisconsin
placeofdeath= Aberdeen, Washington
placeofburial=


caption= John Kinne in his WW I Army Uniform
nickname=
allegiance= United States of America
branch= United States Army
serviceyears=
rank= Private
unit=Young's Scouts, Company B, 1st North Dakota Volunteers

John Baxter Kinne (1877–1954) was a United States Army soldier awarded the Medal of Honor for actions during the Philippine-American War. He was among 11 men awarded the Medal for actions on the 16th of May 1899. His medal was awarded by President Theodore Roosevelt on May 17, 1906.

Biography

John Kinne was born in Beloit, Wisconsin on December 3, 1877 and entered active duty in the United States Army from the North Dakota National Guard.

During the Philippine-American war Private Kinne was one of a hand-picked group of soldiers known as "Young's Scouts," tasked with being at the forefront of movement in rebel-controlled areas. On May 13, 1899, eleven of these scouts under Captain William Birkhimer earned Medals of Honor in a frontal attack on 300 enemy. Three days later the scouts were looking for water when they encountered a large enemy force of at San Isidro. The rebel forces set fire to the strategic bridge over the Rio Grande de Pampanga. Three Scouts immediately sprinted across the bridge, firing at the enemy from point-blank range, while the remaining Scouts took cover and returned fire on the enemy trenches on the opposite bank, only fifty yards distant. Private Kinne was one of twenty-two Scouts that braved the hail of fire to rush the burning, wooden bridge and extinguished the flames, though constantly under fire. They then attacked and routed the enemy forces numbering 600 men. Private Kinne and six other Scouts earned the Medal of Honor for this action. In all, thirteen of Young's Scouts earned Medals of Honor in the three-day period.

John Kinne died in Aberdeen Washington and is buried at Fern Hill Cemetery in Aberdeen, Washington.

Medal of Honor citation

Rank and Organization: Private, Company B, 1st North Dakota Infantry. Place and Date: Near San Isidro, Philippine Islands, May 16, 1899. Entered Service At: Fargo, N. Dak. Birth: Beloit, Wis. Date of Issue: May 17, 1906.

Citation:

:With 21 other scouts charged across a burning bridge, under heavy fire, and completely routed 600 of the enemy who were entrenched in a strongly fortified position.

ee also

*List of Medal of Honor recipients

References

* [http://www.homeofheroes.com/moh/citations_1900_wars/pi_kinne.html Home of Heroes]
* [http://www.theodore-roosevelt.com/trmedalsawarded.html Theodore Roosevelt]
*findagrave|8067183 Retrieved on 2007-11-24
* [http://www.homeofheroes.com/photos/3_philippines/kinne.html Home of Heroes biography]