Harry L. MacNeal

Infobox Military Person
name=Harry Lewis MacNeal
born= birth date|1875|3|22
died= death date and age|1950|3|13|1875|3|22
placeofbirth=Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
placeofdeath=Clifton, New Jersey
placeofburial=


caption=Harry L. MacNeal while a US Marine
nickname=
allegiance=United States of America
branch=United States Marine Corps
serviceyears=1896-1901
rank= Corporal
unit=USS "Brooklyn" (CA-3)
battles=Spanish-American War *Battle of Santiago de Cuba
awards=Medal of Honor

Harry L. MacNeal (March 22, 1875 [MacNeal's tombstone curiously lists his birth year as 1880. findagrave|7196076 Retrieved on 2007-12-19] – March 13, 1950) was a United States Marine who was a recipient of America's highest military decoration, the Medal of Honor, for his actions during the Battle of Santiago de Cuba during the Spanish-American War. He was one of fifteen Marines, all enlisted men, to receive the Medal of Honor during the war, [cite web |publisher = United States Marine Corps Historical Division |title = Spanish American War 1898 |date = |url = http://www.tecom.usmc.mil/HD/MOH/Spanish_American_War_1898.htm |accessdate = 2007-12-19] and the only Marine Corps recipient for this particular battle.

Military service

A Philadelphia native, MacNeal enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in Philadelphia on November 16, 1896. During the Spanish-American War, he was stationed on the armored cruiser "USS Brooklyn", which served as the flagship of Commodore Winfield Scott Schley during the Battle of Santiago de Cuba on July 3, 1898. This was the largest naval engagement of the war.

During the five hour battle, one of the "Brooklyn"'s guns became jammed. Two other men attempted, but failed to clear it. MacNeal then volunteered to clear the shell with a hand rammer. He had to crawl along the gun's barrel and expose himself to "murderous fire from the enemy batteries" [cite book|last=White|title=Pioneer and Patriot: George Cook Sweet, Commander, U.S.N., 1877-1953|year=1963|pages= 22] , in addition to having to contend with the blasts from the forward turret, which nearly knocked him overboard. However he succeeded in his task and "resumed his duties as coolly as if what he had done were a matter of everyday routine". [cite web |publisher = Navy Department |title = General Order No. 526 |work = |date = 1899-08-09 |url = http://www.tecom.usmc.mil/HD/PDF_Files/MOH%20Citations/G.O.%20526.pdf
accessdate = 2008-03-13|format=PDF] The American fleet sustained casualties of only two dead, one of whom was on the "Brooklyn", and about 100 wounded. The entire Spanish Caribbean Squadron of six ships was lost, sustaining 474 casualties.

MacNeal received the Medal of Honor on August 9, 1899, almost a year to the day after the war ended. He was discharged from the Marines on December 26, 1901, but reenlisted. However he deserted on February 15, 1906, marking the end of his military career. MacNeal died on March 13, 1950, and is buried in Clifton, New Jersey.

Medal of Honor citation

Rank and organization: Private, U.S. Marine Corps. Born: March 22, 1875, Philadelphia, Pa. Accredited to: Pennsylvania. G.O. No.: 526, August 9, 1899.

Citation:

:On board the U.S.S. Brooklyn during action at the Battle of Santiago de Cuba, 3 July 1898. Braving the fire of the enemy, MacNeal displayed gallantry throughout this action. [cite web
publisher = U.S. Army Center of Military History
title = Medal of Honor Recipients - War With Spain
work = Indian Wars
date = 2007-07-16
url = http://www.history.army.mil/html/moh/warspain.html
accessdate = 2007-08-07]

ee also

*List of Medal of Honor recipients
*List of Medal of Honor recipients for the Spanish-American War

Notes

References

*cite book
author=White, Lillian C.
title=Pioneer and Patriot: George Cook Sweet, Commander, U.S.N., 1877-1953
year=1963
publisher=The Southern Publishing Co.
location=Delray Beach, FL
isbn=
pages=

*findagrave|7196076 Retrieved on 2007-12-19

*cite web
publisher = U.S. Army Center of Military History
title = Medal of Honor Recipients - War With Spain
work = Indian Wars
date = 2007-07-16
url = http://www.history.army.mil/html/moh/warspain.html
accessdate = 2007-12-19

*cite web
publisher = United States Marine Corps Historical Division
title = Spanish American War 1898
date =
url = http://www.tecom.usmc.mil/HD/MOH/Spanish_American_War_1898.htm
accessdate = 2007-12-19

*cite web
publisher = United States Marine Corps Historical Division
title = Who's Who in Marine Corps History
work =
date =
url = http://www.tecom.usmc.mil/HD/Whos_Who/MacNeal_HL.htm
accessdate = 2007-12-19

*cite web
publisher = Navy Department
title = General Order No. 526
work =
date = 1899-08-09
url = http://www.tecom.usmc.mil/HD/PDF_Files/MOH%20Citations/G.O.%20526.pdf
accessdate = 2008-03-13|format=PDF