Gotfred Jensen

He charged an enemy line with eleven other volunteer scouts.

Gotfred Jensen was born on November 20, 1872, in Ryde, Denmark. He served as a private in Company D, 1st North Dakota Volunteer Infantry, during the Philippine conflict.

On May 13, 1899, at San Miguel de Mayumo on Luzon, Jensen and eleven other scouts attacked before their supporting battalion could assist. His Medal of Honor citation credits the group with advancing about 150 yards and routing roughly 300 opponents from a position requiring a frontal attack.

Jensen received the Medal of Honor on June 6, 1906. He died on December 26, 1945, in Soap Lake, Washington, and is buried at the Washington Soldiers Home Cemetery in Retsil. His award commemorates bold action by a small scouting party against a larger force.

Medal of Honor Citation

With 11 other scouts, without waiting for the supporting battalion to aid them or to get into a position to do so, charged over a distance of about 150 yards and completely routed about 300 of the enemy, who were in line and in a position that could only be carried by a frontal attack.